Pittsburgh, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Denver… If Connor Bedard were a singer, the official kid from his early career tour would take shape by itself.
Since the Chicago Blackhawks begin their season with five games on the road, each of their meetings has so far been preceded by a frenzy that clashes with the relative indifference that the organization has inspired over the last two years.
No need to look too far. When a player like Bedard reaches the NHL, he arouses curiosity. The talent of the very first pick of the most recent draft is described as “generational”, and his debut suggests that he will not have too much trouble adapting to the best league in the world. An assist in his first game, a goal in his second. Over 21 minutes of use each time. And frankly positive offensive indicators at five against five.
On the eve of a duel between the Hawks and the Canadiens, the Montreal media market lived up to its reputation. A good twenty journalists crowded into a locker room at the Habs training center to wait for the young prodigy.
Before him, Luke Richardson, head coach of the visitors, was the first to arrive in front of the cameras. The man who spent four seasons as an assistant in Montreal is not at his first rodeo. We can therefore take his word for it when he says that his foal is “very good” at dealing with the attention he receives.
PHOTO GENE J. PUSKAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Luke Richardson, head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks
This is what he has experienced since he was very young. He has a lot of support from his family, and his agency has prepared him well. He’s very calm, he handles it well.
Luke Richardson
Above all, continued the coach, the club management made sure to create, around Bedard, a “support system” within the locker room. During the off-season, the Hawks notably acquired Taylor Hall, very first pick in the 2010 draft and winner of the Hart Trophy in 2018. We also granted high salaries to Corey Perry and Nick Foligno, two forwards at the end of career that we do not pay so much for their offensive contribution as for their impeccable reputation.
“Everything necessary has been done,” assures Richardson. He can ask a lot of guys questions. » The pilot also clarified that he had not tried to take care of Bedard too closely. He prefers to let his veterans take care of him.
Besides, “why wouldn’t we like this attention? “, he said.
“We’re trying to build our team and move forward; if we can get positive attention, it’s great for [Bedard] and for frankness. We’re going to take advantage of it and see where it can take us. »
Not intimidated
It is true that there is nothing new for Bedard in evolving in the public eye.
He was entering his teens when talk of him as a future 2023 first-round pick began. With each passing year, interest in him grew. The last few months have been an unstoppable crescendo.
“It’s fun,” noted the main person concerned from the outset. I focus on hockey, on the team environment. […] I don’t want to get distracted by that. I want to be a good teammate. »
You should know that Bedard, as talented as he is, is not blessed with great charisma. He thus makes himself the heir of Connor McDavid, who is not a fine tribune either.
No matter, it is clear that, at 18 years and 4 months old, he is no longer intimidated by press scrums.
On the ice, he sees how “good everyone is”. Both his comrades and his opponents are “faster and stronger” than anything he had known before.
The first matches were good. I hope I can continue to improve. Against the best players in the world, it’s not easy at all.
Connor Bedard
He acknowledged that the contribution of the club’s veterans was “surreal” for the many young players in the squad.
“There is a good balance between young and old. Well, not the old ones…”, he corrected himself, causing a burst of laughter.
“More like the guys who have been there a long time. They teach us a lot. »
After playing two games at center for Ryan Donato and Taylor Hall, Bedard will already have a new linemate on Saturday night, since Hall was injured Wednesday in Boston. We initially feared an absence of a few weeks, but the winger was already on the ice for Friday’s training. However, he will not face the Canadian. Taylor Raddysh will take his place on the main unit.
Connor Bedard will also reconnect, in a way, with Martin St-Louis. A photo circulated on social networks showing a very small Bedard with the former Lightning glory, at the time when the Quebecer was his son’s coach in minor hockey.
“We had won against their team in the semi-final and I went to ask him to take a photo straight after,” recalled the young man.
“I don’t think he was thrilled,” he added, smiling. It’s still incredible how we come full circle. »
We suspect that Bedard will not ask St. Louis for a photo after Saturday’s game. But we can also assume that the Habs coach will do everything to, this time, have reasons to smile.