Chicago Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL or NHLPA
Will Connor Bedard Make The 4 Nation's Faceoff roster?
Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks are focused on making sure this season is an improvement upon the last.
The 2023-2024 season saw him win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Top Rookie, scoring 22 goals, and 61 points in 68 games.
But with the Four Nations Face-Off coming up in 2025, you'd think Bedard would be a shoo-in for a roster spot right?
He's not concerned about it at the moment, but it's on his mind.
"I definitely hope so," he told TSN's Jay Onrait when asked about the possibility of playing with Connor McDavid at February's tournament. "For me, I'm not focused on it right now. I'm focused on here in Chicago and helping us win, but obviously, if I play well enough and give myself a chance (to make the roster), that'd be great.
"There's so many players in Canada that could be on that team. ... Of course, I have confidence in myself, but we'll see what happens down the road."
"There's so many players in Canada that could be on that team. ... Of course, I have confidence in myself, but we'll see what happens down the road."
Canada made an announcement of the skeleton of Team Canada's roster beginning with Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Brayden Point, and Cale Makar. These players were the first to qualify.
The rest of the roster will be announced between the dates of November 29th and December 2nd.
Bedard's production during the last seven games has seen him score at a point-per-game, quite impressive as the center is ramping up during his sophomore season in the NHL.
While only limited to a goal in that timeframe, he's been a steady offensive producer and leads the Blackhawks with 25 shots. He has been in a bit of a slump, which isn't too uncommon for players in their 2nd year in the league.
he's been handcuffed by a shooting rate of 4%. He's generated 2.82 individual expected goals, per Natural Stat Trick.
Luke Richardson doesn't think Bedard's been too rattled by his lack of goals during that time frame. He feels that Bedard will pick it up eventually.
"I think he keeps calm," he said Wednesday. "I think he gets a little frustrated at instant moments and moves on. He's got some good maturity in that area. I'd like to see him shoot the puck a little bit more and maybe a little quicker, but he knows that, and sometimes it doesn't present itself. You don't want him to start forcing it, either.
"I think he's going to be a guy that, when it goes in, there's going to be a lot of them going in."
"I think he's going to be a guy that, when it goes in, there's going to be a lot of them going in."
While Bedard would like to make the Four Nations Face Off roster he is concerned with the now, as he is working on improving his five-on-five stats.
"I think I was cheating maybe a little too much last year for offense," Bedard admitted Wednesday. "But I think it's just a balance. It's such a mentality, I find, for myself. I always want to have the puck, I always want to be in the offensive zone, but half the game's played in your own end.
"Just being responsible. I feel like when you are better in your own end, you get the puck back, and you go in their end. That's when it's fun to play."
"Just being responsible. I feel like when you are better in your own end, you get the puck back, and you go in their end. That's when it's fun to play."
It seems as if it has worked, as Bedard is now a +1 on ice, along with 7 points( 1 G, 6 A) in that time frame.
We'll have to wait and see where Bedard lands at the end of November, and maybe he'll get to wear that beautiful red and white jersey against Sebastian Aho and his teammate Teuvo Teravainen if he should make the lineup.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 24 | 81 ANSWERS Will Connor Bedard Make The 4 Nation's Faceoff roster? Do you think that Connor Bedard will make the roster for the Four Nations Face-off? | ||
| Yes | 68 | 84 % |
| No | 13 | 16 % |
| List of polls | ||