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By Evan Massey
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Chicago Blackhawks have gotten off to a 2-2-1 start to the 2025-26 NHL season. Connor Bedard and company are hoping to surprise the league and become a playoff contender by the end of the year.
While most believe that the Blackhawks are still a couple of years from contention, Bedard doesn't see things that way.
Entering this season, Chicago was the third-youngest team in the NHL. There are some signs of big steps in the right direction so far, but there is a lot of work left to do.
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Bedard is the obvious franchise cornerstone moving forward. While the Blackhawks still have some holes to fill, they have been very competitive to start off the year.
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After leading Chicago to a blowout win over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night by a final score of 8-3, Bedard spoke out with a strong message and didn't hold back about his view on the current state of the team. He wants to win now, not in the future.
“We want to win,” Bedard said. “We don’t want to win in three years. We want to win now. We just got to work hard and play our game and not kind of deviate from that. When you win some, you lose some, but if we stick to what we are, then I think we’ll be good.”
So far this season, Bedard has been playing at an extremely high level. Throughout the first five games of the year, the 20-year-old star center has scored two goals to go along with four assists. In a small sample size, he has recorded a shooting percentage of 33.3.
Originally selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 1 overall pick back in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard has been showing rapid signs of development on the ice. Off the ice, he has started taking on a very vocal leadership role. That is a sight for sore eyes in Chicago.
While it might be a stretch to think that the Blackhawks are going to be a playoff team this season, Bedard has made that his goal. Perhaps that goal is within reach.
Only time will tell, but Chicago fans have to love the mindset that Bedard has shared early on this year.
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