It seems that Bedard doesn't really NEED anyone in particular on his line. He appears to be able to create for himself quite well. I'm sure it would greatly benefit him to have some top tier players on his line, but considering what he is doing with a 36 yo Foligno and Kurashev, he'll be fine.

What the three pairs mentioned have in common is that for the most part they mostly play on separate lines. So I think it's more about developing and maintaining depth.
- Chunk

Exactly my point. Without a serious scoring threat on the 2nd line, Bedard will always have to play against the opposition's top D pair. On the power play is when he can partner up with whoever that high end talent is.

Exactly my point. Without a serious scoring threat on the 2nd line, Bedard will always have to play against the opposition's top D pair. On the power play is when he can partner up with whoever that high end talent is.
- Dieselhead

Not that he's the solution, but I'm going to say don't sleep on Reichel for next year. I think he just needs to get his head straight.

Still too many unknowns to try and figure out who will be the anchor on the second line, but there are some nice looking prospects coming. I know his skating needs work, but there is something to be said about Hayes being able to continually produce.

Seen 2 things I never thought I'd ever see.

1- I believe I actually saw the puck frozen on the boards and then a faceoff -that was positively shocking...

2 - Ok, the wave???? Did someone forget to send the crowds a memo - Chicago crowds -NEVER- did the wave; in fact that was a point of pride. Crowds at Mets' or Cards' games did that stunty crap. To be sure, and I think it was at a club game at U of I in the mid 80's - when their smallish crowd did the wave, and I was the only guy in a section --- I got booed for not joining their wave. I considered it to be 'St Louisy' ... I stand by that. . .

Bonus points- so they shifted the overly enthusiastic 12 year old school girl, to a (still too enthusiastic) 15 year old guy. Can't the AI just come up with a Harvey Wittenberg-esque type voice? That guy had... gravitas.
- SC116

And Harvey always waited for a stoppage in play to announce the goal scorer and assists

Found this quote from Bedard over at Bleacher Nation. He's talking about playing with Kurashev. Looks like they'll be linemates for a while.

I’m just trying to give him the puck. He’s so good at getting himself open when someone else has it. Man, I love playing with him, he’s so skilled. I think the best part is we’re always talking about plays and or even in practice kind of working on stuff together. That makes it so much fun and makes it a little easier to build chemistry just with how much we’re trying to work together. When he has the puck he makes something happen. And then, like I said, when he doesn’t have it, he’s getting an open, getting in a spot.
- boilermaker100

One of the reasons they're better lately, in addition to the more reasonable schedule, is the stability in the lineup, with the injured guys coming back in. They get to play with the same guys a few nights in a row. And even through he's not great, AA caused problems last night with his speed. Having fewer AHL guys in the Blackhawk lineup is a good thing. Unless you're hoping to finish last.

That's why i think Levshunov instead of Parekh will be ranked higher on the Blackhawks draft board
- BetweenTheDots

If the Hawks draft a d-man with their selection my preference would be Levshunov then D!ckinson. That being said, I hope they pick a scorer with their pick and a RHD with Tampa's.

I thought for sure when Kurashev came up that he was Alex Fortin 2.0. Glad I'm wrong.
- Chunk

Slaggert is the next Fortin, at least by the numbers. Slaggert will be wearing #84, only worn previously by the man himself, Alex Fortin.

I thought for sure when Kurashev came up that he was Alex Fortin 2.0. Glad I'm wrong.
- Chunk

Oh God. You mean when the pipeline was truly brimming with talent? From that 2018 draft, still can't believe they parted ways with Hakkaraianen.

Hmm, IDK Kane had the best backhand I've ever seen?
- rpeters01

Kane had one of the best backhands ever. Bedard’s skill set is already better than prime Kane. Hes has a top 5 NHL shot. I love watching him skate. Edge work and change of direction is unreal.

Remember he has no one around him. We rarely see him use his one timer b/c no one can get him the puck. The one he scored on last night was a top shelf laser.

Whether he has a better career than Kane is TBD.

One of the reasons they're better lately, in addition to the more reasonable schedule, is the stability in the lineup, with the injured guys coming back in. They get to play with the same guys a few nights in a row. And even through he's not great, AA caused problems last night with his speed. Having fewer AHL guys in the Blackhawk lineup is a good thing. Unless you're hoping to finish last.
- scottak

They are playing better bc Bedard is back and getting in a grove. AA will help some but it’s Bedard.

Kane had one of the best backhands ever. Bedard’s skill set is already better than prime Kane. Hes has a top 5 NHL shot. I love watching him skate. Edge work and change of direction is unreal.

Remember he has no one around him. We rarely see him use his one timer b/c no one can get him the puck. The one he scored on last night was a top shelf laser.

Whether he has a better career than Kane is TBD.
- bhawks2241

Bedard you can argue is a top 10 player in the league right now if you want to be a super homer \ fanboy. Definitely top 25 if you're being more objective.

Bedard you can argue is a top 10 player in the league right now if you want to be a super homer \ fanboy. Definitely top 25 if you're being more objective.
- fattybeef

It's an interesting debate, how many players can you put in Bedard's situation and expect the same results? That's a pretty short list

It's an interesting debate, how many players can you put in Bedard's situation and expect the same results? That's a pretty short list
- BetweenTheDots

McDavid
MacKinnon
Draisaitl
Crosby
Matthews
Strome
de Haan

McDavid
MacKinnon
Draisaitl
Crosby
Matthews
Strome
de Haan
- ObeseOprah

You forgot Murphy.

McDavid
MacKinnon
Draisaitl
Crosby
Matthews
Strome
de Haan
- ObeseOprah

McDavid already had Draisitl, Hall, Nuggie and Eberle his rookie year

McKinnon already had Landeskog (so it should be Landeskog), O' Reilley, Duchene and Stasny his rookie year

Draisitl had Hall, Nuggie and Eberle his rookie year

Crosby had Lemieux, Recchi, Pallfy Leclair his rookie year

Matthews had Nylander, Kadri and Marner his rookie year

Strome- not at the same level as Bedard but likely crap

de Haan- not at the same level as Bedard but likely crap

Bedard has Foligno and Kurashev so he is a lot earlier in the rebuild than the other modern superstars

Kane had one of the best backhands ever. Bedard’s skill set is already better than prime Kane. Hes has a top 5 NHL shot. I love watching him skate. Edge work and change of direction is unreal.

Remember he has no one around him. We rarely see him use his one timer b/c no one can get him the puck. The one he scored on last night was a top shelf laser.

Whether he has a better career than Kane is TBD.
- bhawks2241

I loved Patrick Kane, you could see from the beginning he was going to be a great player and he had talent.

He never ever had to play with what Bedard has to right now.

No way Kane does what he did early in his career with a team like Bedard has now.

I loved Patrick Kane, you could see from the beginning he was going to be a great player and he had talent.

He never ever had to play with what Bedard has to right now.

No way Kane does what he did early in his career with a team like Bedard has now.
- vabeachbear

Around 2012 I believe, Kane put the team on his back and carried them to the playoffs playing Center when Toews was out with a concussion for an extended period. They had a little more then, especially on Defense but Kane made them a playoff team.

Bedard you can argue is a top 10 player in the league right now if you want to be a super homer \ fanboy. Definitely top 25 if you're being more objective.
- fattybeef

Bedard ranks 38th on a point per game basis. All the players about him expect J Hughes and Crosby are on playoff teams. In both situation those guys are surrounded by more talent than Bedard.

Amongst rookies, Zary and Faber are tied for 2nd in PPG with 0.58. Carlsson is next with 0.57 then Fantilli with 0.55. I would guess that most, if not all, of the other rookies with have a lower PPG if they played for the Blackhawks vs. their current team.

Defensively Bedard's metrics aren't positive, but that can be said for almost all Blackhawks skaters. There are a couple of exceptions, somehow Jason D!ickinson is +5 and Joey Anderson is +7 - how is that possible on this team???

It takes a special kind of talent to put up the numbers Bedard has with the Blackhawks. But it's very difficult to compare him to other players considering his situation.

Right now, who is definitely playing better? I would say McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Kucherov, and Pastrnak.

Around 2012 I believe, Kane put the team on his back and carried them to the playoffs playing Center when Toews was out with a concussion for an extended period. They had a little more then, especially on Defense but Kane made them a playoff team.
- rpeters01

My point is not that, my point is he wouldn't of had made this a playoff team.

Bedard ranks 38th on a point per game basis. All the players about him expect J Hughes and Crosby are on playoff teams. In both situation those guys are surrounded by more talent than Bedard.

Amongst rookies, Zary and Faber are tied for 2nd in OOG with 0.58. Carlsson is next with 0.57 then Fantilli with 0.55. I would guess that most, if not all, of the other rookies with have a lower PPG if they played for the Blackhawks vs. their current team.

Defensively Bedard's metrics aren't positive, but that can be said for almost all Blackhawks skaters. There are a couple of exceptions, somehow Jason D!ickinson is +5 and Joey Anderson is +7 - how is that possible on this team???

It takes a special kind of talent to put up the numbers Bedard has with the Blackhawks. But it's very difficult to compare him to other players considering his situation.

Right now, who is definitely playing better? I would say McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Kucherov, and Pastrnak.
- DarthKane

What's an OOG?

What's an OOG?

- Chunk

You know....

Bedard ranks 38th on a point per game basis. All the players about him expect J Hughes and Crosby are on playoff teams. In both situation those guys are surrounded by more talent than Bedard.

Amongst rookies, Zary and Faber are tied for 2nd in PPG with 0.58. Carlsson is next with 0.57 then Fantilli with 0.55. I would guess that most, if not all, of the other rookies with have a lower PPG if they played for the Blackhawks vs. their current team.

Defensively Bedard's metrics aren't positive, but that can be said for almost all Blackhawks skaters. There are a couple of exceptions, somehow Jason D!ickinson is +5 and Joey Anderson is +7 - how is that possible on this team???

It takes a special kind of talent to put up the numbers Bedard has with the Blackhawks. But it's very difficult to compare him to other players considering his situation.

Right now, who is definitely playing better? I would say McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Kucherov, and Pastrnak.
- DarthKane

One more thing: Since returning from injury, Bedard is scoring at a 1.38 PPG pace, that would be good enough for 5th in the league.

You know....
- DarthKane

ya, its, you know, an OOG

One more thing: Since returning from injury, Bedard is scoring at a 1.38 PPG pace, that would be good enough for 5th in the league.
- DarthKane

It's incredible that he's doing it with a fish bowl on his head.

One more thing: Since returning from injury, Bedard is scoring at a 1.38 PPG pace, that would be good enough for 5th in the league.
- DarthKane

Anything less than 2 PPG, he should be considered a bust.

It's incredible that he's doing it with a fish bowl on his head.
- BetweenTheDots

I would love if he just kept it on for his career.