Blackhawks Connor Bedard gives honest opinion on his linemates selection

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Daniel Lucente
October 15, 2024 (2:19 PM)

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Connor Bedard has been playing with many different linemates since joining the Chicago Blackhawks, and he gave his honest opinion on the juggling act.

Change upon change, players traded, signed, released, or sent down to develop in the minor leagues, the world of hockey moves swiftly, especially when one finds his team in the midst of a rebuild. It is not an easy world to keep up with, and it is no different for the Chicago Blackhawks. With the team looking for its identity, stability proves hard to come by, while lineups are subject to change with every passing game.

Head coach Luke Richardson still appears to be juggling combinations to see what works and fits on the ice. Young talents such as forward Lukas Reichel and defenseman Nolan Allan have managed to find themselves in and out of the bench despite their high upside. Either of the two could easily be sent down for more development time in Rockford, but Richardson remains firm with having them in the mix at the NHL level. But in all that juggling, Richardson has started to find at least one pairing showing early promise: Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen.

At first, it took them time to get any type of rhythm going for Bedard and Teravainen together. As with most new line pairings coming together, there was that adjustment period, and now they are in sync. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and anytime either hits the ice, eyes can't be taken off them. It's starting to energize the Blackhawks' offense, bringing some fun scoring chances and a spark to their play.

«We're getting to know where each other likes to go. He's a great player, fun to play with, and makes the game easy for me.»

- Connor Bedard

It was one of those moments on a Saturday night game against the Edmonton Oilers. In a dazzling sequence, Bedard was racing down the ice, facing off against Evan Bouchard. Being knocked down did not stop Bedard from using the reach of his stick to sweep the puck to Teravainen while still on the ice. Teravainen's shot went off the post, but the play told volumes of where their connection and trust had gone. A taste, actually, of the kind of magic they can create together.

Through three games, Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen are a bright spot for the Blackhawks with five points each. Bedard scored his first goal against Edmonton. Teravainen tallied his third goal of the season. The good start to the season is reflected in the plus/minus ratings with Bedard currently sitting at +2 and Teravainen at +1. With an overall rebuilding phase in which finding consistency can be tough, this might be the tandem to push the Blackhawks forward.