The Connor Bedard Show hits the road for a two-game stint against the Dallas Stars. I am not sure if you are all getting tired of hearing about this kid, but if you are, you better get used to it because he is about to take over. Watching him play against the Jets on Wednesday, it was very clear how special this kid is and will be. There was no reason why the Hawks should have beaten the Jets that game, but the pure willpower and determination Bedard showed getting the Hawks on the board with the first goal of the night gives you small flashbacks to the cup-era teams that no matter what the situation the team was in, there was no doubt in your mind they were going to pull this one off. Petr Mrazek once again played a stellar game, allowing just one goal, one that he would have liked back, on 38 shots and finishing this one with a.974 SV%. He now has a 9-11 record and is just one win shy of matching last season's total of 10. Mrazek is playing his way off this team and on to a playoff team who will be looking for some insurance in net the same way the Knights did by grabbing Quick last season.

The overtime winner from Bedard was a well-placed wrister, and it almost seemed like it was too easy. When you rewatch the play, it's mind-boggling that the Jets just let him take the puck from his zone all the way to the offensive end circles and shoot the puck with zero pressure put on him. It goes to show you that he already has the rest of the league on their toes and is not sure if they should defend against the shot or against his hands. Before the season started, I spoke about keeping expectations low for him as he was dealt a lot of pressure, but I think he has been handling this very well and showing that he is the real deal.

Bedard has really come out to play in December; in 13 games, he has 14 points (5-9) and is a plus 1. He is tied for the rookie lead in goals this month; he leads all rookies in assists, points, and powerplay points. He is one of three rookies averaging a point per game or better this month and leads all rookie forwards with time on the ice. It's hard to argue that at this point in the season, he is the hands-down favorite to win the Calder Trophy this summer. It's easy to be impressed with what he is doing out there just by watching him, but when you look at the numbers, you really get an appreciation for what he is achieving this year, and it makes you very excited to think about what he’s going to do once Kyle Davidson provides him with the supporting cast he deserves. The rest of the league should enjoy their chance at winning now because the Hawks are coming and Bedard is putting the league on notice.

The Hawks wrap up 2023 with two games in Dallas against the Stars. The Stars are currently in a game of musical chairs with the Avalanche and Jets for the top spot in the Central. Right now, they are 3rd in the division with a 20-9-4 record and are coming off a disappointing loss against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and are getting their productivity from the usual suspects: Robertson (32 points), ageless wonder Pavelski (31 points), and Hintz (29 points). The nice surprise on offense was the resurgence of Matt Duchene, who was bought out by the Predators this past off-season. He has found his scoring touch again, putting up 29 points (11-18) in 32 games. Over the last 5 games, he has led the team in points (6) and goals (3). They continue to lean heavily on star goalie Jake Oettinger, who has an 11-7-2 record and a.901 SV%. Expect the Hawks to see him once this weekend.

That’s going to be it for me. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m. central time, and as always, Let's Go Hawks.

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Daniel Carcillo




GearGeek

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