Pat Maroon Issues a Statement on Those Disrespecting Connor Bedard

The Chicago Blackhawks have only a few tough guys in the lineup, and one of them is Pat Maroon.

Maroon is known nowadays as a fourth-liner who isn't afraid to drop the gloves to defend his teammates.

Now, with Paul Bissonette's inflammatory comments, Maroon stepped in to defend Bedard from interlocutors like Bissonette in a recent interview with Colby Cohen on the "Morning Cuppa Hockey" Podcast.

Maroon has witnessed first-hand how hard Bedard works as a teammate.

He believes Bedard should be focused on creating plays for the Blackhawks instead of dumping in the puck in, as many old-school coaches prefer.

He also makes a reasonable statement, seeing as Bedard is only 19 years old and is still learning the game.

"An unbelievable kid", "couldn't be nicer", and "wants to get better" are just some descriptors the enforcer has used.

The wave of criticisms thrown at the current face of the Blackhawks has little to no merit and that is coming from one of his own teammates.

Bedard has scored 48 points (16 G, 32 A) in 54 games with the Hawks this season and will have a chance to hit 49 tonight if he can put up a point against the rival St. Louis Blues squad.

Connor Bedard isn't perfect, but he is a gifted hockey player who strives to improve every shift.

That's the difference between an NHL enforcer like Paul Bissonnette and Connor Bedard.