Connor Bedard talks Blackhawks, first NHL game in Vancouver and more in B/R | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Playing in the NHL looks different for Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard as he enters his second season in the league.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft may already be coming off a Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign, but he told Bleacher Report he feels more comfortable with the pace of play heading into the 2024-25 season.

“I may not be working at a crazy level, but I feel like I’m creating a lot of opportunities for myself and everyone, and I feel like the game has slowed down a little bit compared to last year,” Bedard told Bleacher Report. . “I think it’s positive.”

Although Bédard had been considered a potential generational talent since he became the first player to earn exceptional early entry status in the WHL at age 14, the 19-year-old still had some trouble adjusting to his first year in the NHL. .

One of those adaptations was figuring out how to not overdo the practice. Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson spoke about this in an interview with ESPN. Emily Kaplan Last season, he once hid Bedard’s clubs before an extra practice session to encourage the rookie to rest.

As he approaches his sophomore year, Bedard said he has adjusted to a training schedule that allows him to maintain enough energy for intense NHL play.

“I’ve been here for a few years now, you kind of have your routine and everything and you know what you need to do to feel good,” Bedard said. “When you know what it takes to feel that way and everything, I think that’s a huge bonus.”

Other aspects of playing for the Blackhawks have changed since last season. The team allowed players like Taylor Radysh and Mackenzie Entwistle to become free agents and then added veterans like Patrick Maroon and Tyler Bertuzzi this summer.

“All the new guys have been great and we bring a lot to the table, and it’s fun to build new relationships,” Bedard said.

One of those additions to the roster is veteran winger Teuvo Teräväinen, a member of the Blackhawks’ 2015 Stanley Cup-winning team who spent the last eight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes before signing with Chicago this summer.

Since joining in the preseason, Bedard and Teräväinen have become regular linemates and one of the Blackhawks’ most effective offensive duos. In ten games, the Blackhacks have outscored opponents 5-4 when that top line has been on the ice, a positive sign for a team that is generally outscored at 5-on-5.

“I think a lot of our chemistry comes from what we saw,” Bedard said of skating with Teräväinen. “He plays at such a high level and I feel like the best part of my game is the way I think about the game. So we just complement each other… it’s been fun developing that chemistry.” “

Bedard, who signed clothing deal with lululemon last June and signed According to lululemon, the memorabilia deal with Fanatics, which was signed earlier this month, went through product testing with the Vancouver-headquartered brand this summer ahead of a collaboration with the league. He said being part of the campaign made him feel “a little bit” like a trendsetter.

“I know a lot of guys on our team wear these things all the time,” Bedard said.

His role as a brand ambassador for the league involved posing for a modeling campaign that also featured other NHL stars such as John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights.

“It’s definitely out of my comfort zone,” Bedard laughs about modeling. “It was cool. It’s nice to do something that you’re not used to and that you’re not very comfortable with.”