Bedard's Effect Continues To Benefit the Blackhawks: A Recruiting Tool
Connor Bedard was selected in the 1st round, 1st overall in 2023, and arrived to much fanfare in Chicago. He arguably played up to expectations, as a Calder Trophy candidate, scoring 61 points in 68 games.
All of this, with being taken out a month with a jaw injury, he also helped the Blackhawks set attendance records, and the highest-selling jersey in 2023-2024.
But even then, the Bedard effect continues, as his presence in the lineup has been a recruiting tool for the Blackhawks.
As players sign with new teams, their goal is of course a Stanley Cup, and gravitate towards teams who have that potential. Which of course, Bedard is arguably the newest sales pitch, as Kyle Davidson was busy on July 1st, signing 8 players.
He improved the lineup, and it's Bedard's influence in the league, and Laurent Brossoit even stated Bedard's one of the reasons he's signed here:
After his introduction to the NHL, this is the year the team begins to improve after a slight trend downwards. He has begun to draw players to a team, that no one wanted to even think about in 2023.
With Bedard on ice, and Nick Foligno setting the culture in the locker-room and on the ice, the Blackhawks should be set up for success in the future. As Foligno told John Scott on Dropping The Gloves:
And you know, we're not going to put a number on it, but we're going to be a more competitive hockey team. I think if we have that with the mix of the Connor Bedard effect and Alex Vlasic being a year older, and some other guys coming in, we could be a really, really fun, exciting team to watch.»
The Blackhawks in one-year have had a massive change in personnel and culture, and this will be the year it's shaped. In 2023-2024, we will see what it looks like being shaped by Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno, and Luke Richardson's "work ethic identity" style of play and if it pays off.
Source: MSN
Blackhawks' Bedard Effect Continues to Have an Impact
| POLL | ||
AOUT 18 | 72 ANSWERS Bedard's Effect Continues To Benefit the Blackhawks: A Recruiting Tool Will the Blackhawks improve in 2024-2025? | ||
| Yes | 68 | 94.4 % |
| No | 4 | 5.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
