Bedard's Effect Continues To Benefit the Blackhawks: A Recruiting Tool

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Joshua Deeds
August 18, 2024 (8:33 PM)

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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:

«I think (Chicago) has a bright future. If you look at what they've done the last three years, something like eight first-rounders in the last three years. Bedard is a big name there. Obviously, there's a bit of a Bedard effect where you hear rumblings about a lot of different players who are willing to go to Chicago over the free agency frenzy, kind of in the background just knowing a few who were going to consider going to Chicago, so that helps.» (from �New Blackhawks goalie Laurent Brossoit eager to prove himself in larger role' - The Athletic - 07/18/2024).

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:

«It's going to take everybody. You don't go from where we were to Stanley Cup contenders, but you can jump some levels if you do it the right way. I've seen it. I've seen teams do it, and I know that there's a lot of proud guys that are coming in; proud, pro guys that are coming in that want to be better players or help this team move forward, and I'm excited about putting us all together because I think we're a team now that can really come together as a group and surprise some people.

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