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Connor Bedard reveals his reasoning for refusing to interviews all off-season

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Joshua Deeds
September 21, 2024  (1:46 PM)
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Connor Bedard in 2023-2024 provided the NHL with much-needed hype to grow the fanbase. He won the Calder Trophy, and his entire career was broadcasted to the international stage, as the North Vancouver-born forward, was a firecracker for the Blackhawks brand.

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From July 2023 to the end of the NHL season, in June 2024 Bedard mania was everywhere.

He was plastered all over the media, as they followed him from the WHL, to Nashville, to roller hockey and the IIHF.

But this season has been mum, as Bedard has planned it.

«I didn't do an interview for a couple of months, so that was unbelievable,» Bedard said following Friday's training camp session. «The excitement was there last year, but I just feel more relaxed this year.»

Despite missing a month, Bedard posted 61 points in 68 games on a miserable Blackhawks team. In lieu of the broken jaw, would make an appearance at the All-Star Game in Toronto and was a media darling year round.

This year he'd travel to Las Vegas with Kyle Davidson and company for the 2024 NHL Draft and would welcome top defenseman Artyom Levshunov to the Blackhawks organization.

Since then, things have quieted down and he's taken advantage of that.

«Last year, it was super cool and I don't take any of it for granted, but it is a lot of stuff and once it's done you don't want to do it all again.»

Over the summer, Bedard said he had worked on putting himself in more game situations during training, along with the standard offseason work hockey players put in to improve their strength, skating, and speed. «The pace of the skates have been good,» Bedard said following the second day of training camp. «Everyone has looked good to begin and I'm feeling pretty good.»

Expectations for Bedard have increased, as many pundits and fans want him to surpass his total points scored in 2023-2024 from 61, and increase to a level seen from past stars such as Connor McDavid, or Sidney Crosby up into the 100s.

Analysts with conservative viewpoints believe he could be a points-per-game player this season.

Blackhawks fans would be happy with either result, but for Bedard's own expectations for himself, he's keeping that close to his chest.

«I'd never tell you, but I have expectations in my head, for sure.»

GM Kyle Davidson would like to see Bedard's game grow, by 200-FT, with a well-rounded defensive play this year.

«Growing that 200-foot game. I'm sure from his standpoint he probably wants to up his offensive output as well,» Davidson said. «But I'm excited to see him with some new linemates and really taking that step that now he understands the league and being able to impact the game on both sides of the puck and also give us a few more memorable moments on the offensive side of things.»

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Will Bedard hit 100 points in 2024-2025?

Yes3057.7 %
No2242.3 %
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