Being the new face of the franchise is not always easy for Connor Bedard, especially since the Chicago Blackhawks have spent its first two seasons at the bottom of the rankings. The NHL phenomenon goes to its third year in the competition with many expectations and weight on its shoulders. All the while other young stars catch him in the race to be the next large tradable Megastar of the competition.
In one Recent poll of athletic players On the next ‘Face of the League’ of the NHL, Macklin Celebrini actually switched off and pulled eyebrows. A player described Celebrini as ‘a cross between Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron’, while adding that Bagard needs ‘help to be good’, in contrast to Celebrini, who ‘feels that he is wearing his line, his team’. The comparison underlines Bagard’s enormous expectations while entering his third NHL season and contract year. He has an incredible potential, but he has been slow to take the cloak.
Bedard’s oeuvre so far
Bedard came in this season after a strong Rookie campaign, where he played 68 games and recorded 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points. In his second season he continued by playing a full 82 games, ending with 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points.
Although adapting to the NHL has not always been seamless, Bagard has still found ways to thrive. He helped Linemate Ryan Donato reach a career-high 31-goal season, which showed that he can raise the people around him, even in a struggling system.
Realistic expectations for year 3
On the way to the 2025–26 season, the star center of Chicago Blackhawks has a bright future for itself, and some positives suggest that this could be a large year.
The Blackhawks have a few young players who have shown chemistry with him, in particular Frank Nazar, who is signed in the long term, together with veteran wing Andre Burakovsky.
Perhaps the most important thing is that the new head coach Jeff Blashill entails an extensive NHL experience, which is the first time that Bagard is led by a coach with a proven track record at the highest level. For Bedard and the Blackhawks this season is a chance to determine stability, growth and momentum for both the player and the organization.
Fan response to Celebrini vs Bedard debate
The debate of Celebrini vs. Bedard has inflamed a Firestorm on social media, with fans who weighed on whom the title of the next ‘Face of the League’ of the NHL earns.
Some claim that Celebrini has the lead because of his supporting cast, and others credit him by wearing his line and team. Others push back and point out that Bagard has thrive despite playing in a wrestling line -up in Chicago, where lining such as Phillip Kurashev and Ryan Donato are elevated by the Blackhawks’ Star. A fan noticed: “To say that Bagarde needs help when he played with Kurashev and Donato, but still sets almost the same PPG, is idiot”, while another added: “The fact that people have already given up the bedard is absolutely insane for me.”
Opinions also swirl around personality and pressure, with some claiming that bedard has “zero personality, he will never be the face of the NHL”, while others emphasize the difficulty to play in Chicago versus celebrinis “Fun team with zero busy”.
Many fans just want to enjoy watching both prospects that develop, with one comment: “As a fan of Sharks, I don’t understand why the media is putting these two against each other. Can’t we just enjoy them growing in two stars?”
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