This edition of Friday Four delves into notable storylines from around the NHL. Featured topics this week include:
- Chicago Needs More Support Around Bedard
- Will Ehlers Elevate Carolina?
- Could Suter Be a Free Agency Gem?
- Is a Surge in Trades Expected?
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
Following a spectacular rookie season, there`s growing discussion around Macklin Celebrini for the Canadian Olympic Team. However, the same cannot be said for Connor Bedard after his second year in the league. Bedard`s name is rarely mentioned in such conversations, almost as if he`s become less central to discussions about the league`s top young players.
This isn`t a criticism of Bedard himself, but rather reflects the inadequate support the Chicago Blackhawks have provided for their young star early in his NHL career. The 19-year-old hasn`t had sufficient high-end talent around him to ease his transition and help build his confidence. Offensively, Bedard saw a slight dip in his sophomore year, tallying 67 points in 82 games, compared to a 74-point pace as a rookie. Across two seasons, his plus/minus is -80, and his faceoff percentage remains well below 40 percent.
Is this cause for alarm? Absolutely not. Bedard is still very young, possesses immense skill, and has ample time to improve. Furthermore, given the challenging circumstances, his scoring rate is still quite impressive, and he finished last season strongly with 15 points in his final 15 games. Nevertheless, should the Blackhawks be somewhat concerned? Probably. Bedard is not as sheltered as some other young stars in the league, and Chicago lacks the necessary center depth and veteran presence around him to alleviate some of the pressure. It`s undesirable for him to remain in such a demanding environment for too long.
Consider Celebrini`s situation, for instance. As a rookie, he benefited from having a player like Alex Wennberg. Wennberg`s signing by San Jose last summer didn`t generate much buzz, but he ended up averaging nearly 19 minutes per night and took over 1,000 faceoffs in 2024-25. He handled significant responsibilities, taking a considerable weight off Celebrini`s shoulders.
Bedard did not have this advantage. Instead, the Blackhawks invested in wingers Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi, along with defensemen Alec Martinez and TJ Brodie. Since then, Martinez has retired, and Brodie was bought out, while Teravainen and Bertuzzi offered only modest production. A year later, the Blackhawks possess over $22 million in salary cap space but lack obvious targets for it. While they can`t be faulted for not adding significant pieces this summer, given last year`s outcomes and the weak free agent market, Chicago may need to pursue trades to acquire talent to help Bedard.
The promise in Celebrini`s situation is clear. Will Smith and William Eklund, who scored 18 and 17 goals last season, look like good linemates for Celebrini. Additionally, Sam Dickinson is on the way, and Michael Misa was just selected second overall in the 2025 draft. This appears to be a strong core poised for improvement relatively soon. In contrast, there might be less certainty in Chicago. Frank Nazar showed flashes last year, and Artyom Levshunov could become a foundational piece on defense. Anton Frondell, drafted immediately after Misa, should also eventually be an important asset. Yet, Chicago`s rebuild currently feels at least a step behind San Jose`s.
Most generational talents like Bedard have had the benefit of playing alongside other great players early in their NHL careers. Wayne Gretzky had Mark Messier, Sidney Crosby had Evgeni Malkin, and Connor McDavid has Leon Draisaitl. Bedard currently lacks anyone even approaching the caliber of those co-stars. He is, in effect, isolated, and it appears he may have to navigate another season largely on his own.
If there`s a positive outlook for the Blackhawks, it`s their substantial cap space and the loaded 2026 free agent class. They could position themselves to make a significant push for a top player next summer, leveraging the opportunity to play with Bedard during his prime as a selling point. But can they really afford to postpone getting Bedard the necessary support until then?
