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Despite a Slow Start, the Blackhawks Provide Reason for Hope
Connor Bedard doesn’t hurt.
I’ve been a Chicago Blackhawks fan for almost 60 years. During that time, Connor Bedard is the most hyped rookie the Hawks have ever had. I don’t remember when Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita began their careers in Chicago, but I do remember the beginning of the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane era. It was well-hyped, but nothing like the attention Connor Bedard has received.
Kane and Toews made their debuts with the Hawks during the 2007–08 season. The Hawks went 40–34–8 that year. Kane scored 21 goals to go with 51 assists while Toews potted 24 goals to go with 30 assists. While I look for Bedard to score a similar number of points, I don’t look for this version of the Hawks to be as good as the 2007–08 version.
The Blackhawks schedule has been brutal
The Hawks first five games were on the road and their first home game was against the Stanley Cup champion Las Vegas Knights. It would have been nice to let the Hawks work their way up to a tougher stretch, but things didn’t work out that way. Their 2–4 record is about what could be expected.
Bedard is the real deal
But he’s not ready to dominate. As of now, he has two goals and two assists in six games. The…
