There were worries about Connor Bedard's development when Taylor Hall and other Chicago teammates were injured. But December's NHL rookie of the month hasn't lost a step.

The NHL named Chicago Blackhawks star center Connor Bedard the rookie of the month for December – and it’s the latest competitive feather in Bedard’s cap. 

Some hockey observers wondered whether Bedard’s impact would take a hit when the injury bug bit hard into the Hawks’ roster – veterans Taylor Hall, Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Johnson all are currently out of action – but don’t fool yourself. As we near the halfway point of the regular season, Bedard looks every bit like the generational presence he’s been touted since he was a dynamo in major junior hockey.

To wit: Bedard currently has a team-best 15 goals, 18 assists and 33 points in 36 games. In December, he even brought up his points-per-game average with 15 points in 15 matches. He also is averaging 19:30 of ice time per game – the best number in that category of any Chicago forward. 

He’s doing all that while playing on a first line with a rotating cast of wingers, mainly greybeard Nick Foligno and youngster Philipp Kurashev but also recent acquisition Anthony Beauvillier and Ryan Donato. All those players would likely not be on the top line for genuine Stanley Cup contenders, but Foligno and Kurashev are benefiting from playing alongside Bedard. Foligno has generated 17 points, while Kurashev has 22 points. Both of their offensive totals would be less than what they are if they weren’t linemates with Bedard.

All of this is to say Blackhawks fans should rest assured they’ve got a bona fide needle-mover in Bedard. He can’t will the team to win, just as fellow phenoms Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews have been unable to lead their teams to a Cup victory, but Bedard clearly can be the straw that stirs the drink in the Windy City. 

It remains astonishing that, at age 18, Bedard is a legitimate Grade-A threat. Once he matures and his body develops, there’s going to be no stopping him. The sky’s the limit for Bedard, and it doesn’t matter who he plays alongside – he makes everyone around him better, and that’s the sign of a true superstar.