So, I’ve just watched the Media Availability that Connor Bedard did on his Contract and was posted on the Chicago Blackhawks YouTube channel. Questions jumped around a little bit, but there were basically four things that all the reporters wanted to talk about: his contract, his shoulder injury and recovery, and roster changes both recent and in future, and the up-for-grabs Captaincy. And boy, do I have some THOUGHTS.
First of all, Bedard seems to be in such a good mindset about the shoulder injury and his recovery. I watched someone else’s show/podcast only a few days ago, where they talked to Darren Pang, and Pang had said during that interview segment that he had spoken to Connor and he was doing well, all things considered. Keeping positive, determined to recover and get back out there, being quite mature and rolling with the reality of it all was the gist of it. And it was a relief as a fan to hear that from someone who works within the Organisation, but actually seeing Bedard answer reporters questions on the injury, his projected recovery, and his plans going forward for integrating back into the side with trainings and etc.? That was something else. Composed but genuine. He’s got his plan, and he’s doing everything he can to heal properly, quickly, and get back to playing hockey. Though, of course, we got that classic “day by day” quote when asked about projected timelines and if he might be back sooner than the four months that has already been mentioned.
When asked about the $15mil x 5year Contract that he has just signed, the reporters’ questions essentially boiled down to: ‘How good does it feel to have that Contract signed / Are you relieved to have it sorted?’, ‘How’d you come to those final figures?’, and even a cheeky “After Leo got $18million a year, there was a lot of talk out in the hockey-verse about what your annual would come in at. How mindful were you of balancing where the Blackhawks are going and then what you were talking about when it comes to the average value of your Contract?” Bedard’s answers? Well, they were exactly what I’ve come to expect from him.
“I don’t think there was any stress involved in it. I think we both knew that it wasn’t gonna take too many calls or meetings to get it done, but obviously very happy to get it done though” - CB
“Um, yeah, I mean, y’know I’m very happy with *laughs* the amount of money I’m making. You know. It’s ah, it’s a lot, and umm, y’know, I think just… with that, obviously, the Offer Sheet’s different as well. You know, with uh, a team tryna, y’know, take a guy um. It’s gonna be a different- different value, so, ah. But- But for me I wasn’t- That- That- That didn’t change anything I was thinking. Umm, y’know, like I’ve said so much and it’s not anything fake, Chicago’s kind of really, y’know, the only place I wanna play and um, y’know, just seeing the growth of our young guys and um, just how good of a group we are. You know, in the room, and how tight it is. How much fun we have. So, umm, you know, I’m very happy to, y’know, get this deal signed and I’m, y’know, I’m just focused- focused on the team and umm, y’know, excited to get back and get going” - CB
As the topic of the Blackhawks Captaincy came up, Bedard was as humble as ever in his answers. It’s a question that he’s answered numerous times before: if he would want that responsibility one day, if he thinks he’s ready for it now, what that might change for him. And as always, his answer remains consistent. Which to me shows that he has thought about it on a deeper level, along with his choice of phrasing illustrating that he does not expect to just be handed the responsibility on a silver platter now that Nick Foligno is gone and a new season is creeping ever closer.
“Umm, *coughs* yeah. It- It would be special for sure. I uh, y’know, I think just getting to play for the Blackhawks Organisation in- in general, without any of that is, y’know, the best thing in the world so, um. Y’know, if I was able to, y’know, become a Captain. Or, y’know, anyone to become a Captain. If it’s- If it’s someone else, I’d be just as happy for them and- but, y’know, if I was able to get that honour it would be, y’know, so special, and something that, y’know, I know I wouldn’t take for granted for a second and you know, um, but we got so many guys in the room that can lead and umm. Y’know, if I’m chosen for that, I would- that would be unbelievable for sure” - CB
Some people online like to have a dig at him and paint Connor Bedard out to be some spoilt, year-older, less-talented version of Macklin Celebrini. Who must secretly be some entitled little shit, despite quotes like that above. And whom Sidney Crosby must hate, because Bedard - unlike Celebrini - has never trained with him over the Summers, and this supposed attitude and Crosby’s subsequent dislike of him must be one of the reasons that Bedard didn’t make the Four Nations, Olympics, or IIHF Team Canada rosters. This is a point of view that makes absolutely ZERO sense to me; once again, see the above quote. But also any of his answers to interview questions about not making these sides, where his answers all amount to ‘I just have to keep working, and prove myself to these selection panels’. Or, in terms of not being on the 2026 IIHF Canadian Men’s team, he was advised to focus on continued rehab for his right-shoulder instead of accepting the invitation to play.
And finally, when talking about players who have recently been signed or might be coming into the franchise, he had some things to say that - to me, at least - were very interesting.
Bedard seemed very supportive of and excited to have Bowen Byram in the side in particular, though he spoke well of all new additions. He also seemed keen for Patrick Kane to rejoin the Blackhawks when asked about that possibility. Stating the following about both Byram and Kane:
“Obviously getting Bo, um, y’know he’s someone- he’s gonna be ah- one of the best D-men in the league and umm, y’know, he’s always shown that but, y’know, you play behind Cale and- and- and Dahlin. It’s not easy to, y’know, take their spots, so, ah- just for him to get- get the opportunity to be that- be that one and ahh prove- prove, y’know, himself in that way and- and he’s gonna do it. He’s one of the, y’know, most- most skilled- skilled players in the league and um y’know, just his motivation to prove that and, um, is unbelievable and his excitement to be- be with us is just is- is- is just great for the team…” - CB
“Yeah, I hope so *with a smile on his face*. You know, I hope so. I dunno, y’know, what I can say to, y’know, persuade [Patrick Kane’s] decision, but you know, obviously we’d all… be so excited to have- have a player like that, but also a guy like that. I can’t imagine his first game back at the UC, the y’know, the reaction he’d get, and just how much juice that would bring to not only our team, but our fans as well. And umm, y’know, that would just be- y’know, that would- that would be incredible to, y’know, get to play with him and- and learn from him. So, y’know, hopefully he uh… decides to come back and um, y’know, I think it would… And- And you talk about, kind of the legacy aspect of it, but just as a team; it would make us a way better team. He’s still an amazing player, so um, y’know, I don’t know if this is- probably not the best pitch but, y’know, hopefully he comes back and ah y’know, we can- we can play together for sure” - CB
Poor kid stutters so much when he talks, but don’t let that fool you. His tone is otherwise confident and conveys that he means every word that he says. That he’s truly thinking about his answers as he gives them. I’ve never fully ascribed to the ‘Hockey Robot’ persona the media tried to plaster Bedard with in that first season; yes, he’s media-trained, yes hockey is perhaps the most important thing in his life, but he does have personality and inflection. He cares, and he has jokes even.
Over all, this Media Release settled any niggling worries that I had, and I am more excited than ever for the new season to get here! …Even if I’m not personally sure where I stand on Patrick Kane potentially coming back, given I’ve heard some things about a rape case against him that was dropped, so…
If you want another view of all this, I highly recommend checking out the latest video from Blackhawks Conversation on YouTube. I don’t know him or anything, I’m just some Blackhawks fan from a nowhere town in Australia, but I’ve started watching his stuff recently and he seems to have a calm, well-rounded view of things.
