In addition to being broadcasted locally in Philly and Chicago, Saturday’s afternoon matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks was on NHL Network for the entire nation to see.
This was a bad game for Chicago as they blew another multi-goal lead in a game that they should have been able to win. Their inability to hang onto leads regularly has cost them a lot of points this season. They simply don’t score enough which hinders their ability to hang on for wins.
The ending of this game wasn’t ideal because it was Matvei Michkov who completed the comeback in overtime with a power-play goal. Of course, Michkov was taken seventh overall in the 2023 NHL Draft which was the same draft that Connor Bedard went first overall.
Michkov would have (likely) been taken second if he didn’t have his KHL situation which he has now broken out of. For those reasons, these two young stars are going to be compared forever.
Bedard has been struggling. He has no goals in his last 11 games and just six assists during that time. It got even worse for Bedard when Michkov ended his team’s chance to win with the OTGWG.
After the Florida game on Thursday and before this one against Philly, Bedard talked about his lack of confidence in himself as a player right now. That’s obviously something that is not what the organization wants to hear.
During one of the NHL Network live intermissions, they discussed Bedard and the recent struggles he’s been having. One of their analysts, Mike Johnson, had some incredible words for the young Bedard.
Mike Johnston is not the end all be all but he has a nice resume that deserves respect. Johnston played for five teams over the course of his 12-year NHL career. Since retiring, he’s become a great analyst who covers hockey well on TV.
Hearing how Johnston would handle it is exactly right. Bedard needs to be reminded how good he is and the NHL is a very difficult league to play in. It won’t always be easy but only he has the power to continue his development the right way.
Johnston brought up Bedard’s want to elevate the franchise that drafted him, his desire to play for Team Canada at the Four Nations Faceoff, and his lack of goal-scoring when that’s the one thing he’s always been elite at.
Perspective on all of these things for a 19-year-old in the hardest league in the world is what we all need to recognize and Mike Johnston did the best job of putting it into words.
There will come a point when Bedard lives up to his potential. When that happens, Chicago will start to win a lot more games. Being patient with the kid is all anyone can do at this time.
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Related: Matvei Michkov Gets The Best Of Blackhawks In Overtime
