Everyone in the hockey community will be wishing Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard a happy birthday on Thursday. This is his 20th birthday, which should begin his most productive decade in the National Hockey League. Throughout his 20s, he will become a superstar in the NHL. Bedard, unlike most players to play in this league, was fortunate enough to play two full seasons as a teenager. Part of that was his talent, and part of that was his birthday allowing it. It didn't take long for Bedard to get going offensively in the NHL. He has 45 career goals and 83 assists for 128 points in 150 games. Those 128 points are the second most by a teenager in Blackhawks history. 22 of those goals and 39 of those assists for 61 total points came his his 68-game rookie season. These totals earned him the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. To say he was a successful NHL teen would be an understatement, despite people still finding a way to be underwhelmed. Bedard didn't become Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews in year one. There were some growing pains, but he looked like he belonged. His defensive game and decision-making need improvement, but that will come with experience. It may take another two or three years for the world to see Connor Bedard truly break out like the top ten players in the NHL. However, it will be in his 20s when he becomes a superstar. You can tell by his demeanor, skills, and commitment level that he will reach a certain level of stardom. He won't accept anything less. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils are two shiny examples of superstars in the NHL who were first overall picks that took some time to get going. Bedard was incredibly more productive than those two in their first two years. Is he as good a skater as them? No. But he does have the talent to produce at their level once he's in his prime. Over this off-season, Bedard has been working on his hockey mechanics and skating. He made the wise (mature) choice to stay back from the IIHF World Championships, which would have dramatically increased his chance of playing in the Olympics, to prepare for 2025-26 with Chicago. We will see the results of this dedication when the puck drops in October. The Blackhawks are going to be one of the youngest teams in the NHL next season. There will be tough times in terms of wins and losses. With that in mind, Bedard (and a handful of other players) taking big steps is what truly matters for Chicago. Now that he's in his 20s, expect him to soar. Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] team site to stay updated on the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-newshttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-dayhttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/game-day] coverage, player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/playershttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/players], and more.
