Connor Bedard is getting very frustrated in Chicago which is creating trade talks

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Daniel Lucente
October 30, 2024 (5:39 PM)

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Connor Bedard isn't happy with the situation in Chicago right now, as the team continues to struggle, and trade talks have recently started to creep up.

Compared to initial expectations, the Chicago Blackhawks are getting off to a much choppier start, sitting last in the Central Division with the unfortunate record of 3-6-1. The frustration brought about by this slow team start is evident on the face of even their star rookie sensation, Connor Bedard, who comes into the league with immense potential. It has recently been reported by the likes of Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet that this poor start has led the management of the Blackhawks to listen to what the trade market has to offer in terms of a supporting cast for their young superstar.

Let me be crystal clear here: Friedman is not reporting that Bedard is unhappy in Chicago or looking to request a trade. Rather, it was to say that the Blackhawks might feel compelled to look at short-term fixes via trades to put a better team around Bedard, for the purpose of making Bedard happier and more confident that the team is going in a direction he wants to be a part of, without sacrificing the organization's longer-term vision and rebuild strategy.

During the summer, the Blackhawks had a serious try at signing top winger Jake Guentzel, but after being moved from the Carolina Hurricanes via trade, he signed a lucrative contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although Chicago did not end up acquiring his services, their reported interest in finding Bedard a first-line complement certainly indicates their willingness to pursue difference-makers, a strategy they may revisit throughout the course of the regular season.

With a healthy collection of prospects and the draft capital that could fuel a trade, Chicago should be well-positioned to pursue additional top-tier talent. Perhaps more importantly, the advantageous salary cap situation the team finds itself in also means they could be a serious contender on the free-agent market come next offseason. That flexibility gives the Blackhawks an opportunity for short and long-term improvements to round out Bedard's support network and enhance the team's overall competitiveness.

In the rumors, one popular target mentioned among analysts is Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras, who could very well take up Chicago's second-line center role. Any potential move for Zegras might need to wait until the offseason, but that does little to address Connor Bedard's more pressing needs. The Blackhawks have been trying to keep him motivated and enthusiastic about the future with a better-supporting cast, one willing to commit to a winning way of life.