NHL futures: Bedard's start impacting Blackhawks playoff chances
It's no exaggeration that Connor Bedard is a generational talent, and the Chicago Blackhawks rookie is already living up to the hype just a few games into his NHL career.
Naturally, his bid to win the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie is still alive and well after tallying a goal and two assists through his first three NHL tilts. But is his introduction into the league also boosting his team's chances of getting into the playoffs this year?
We know, the Blackhawks have missed out on the playoffs five out of the last six seasons and one single player isn't going to change that. But heck, weirder things have happened, right?
Here is how the start to Bedard's season is improving the chances of Chicago making it to the playoffs this season.
Despite going 1-2-0 to start the season, the Chicago Blackhawks are favorably priced at 7-1 at DraftKings to make the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2024. The hype around Bedard has no doubt been a factor in shortening those odds. It doesn't hurt either that he is bonding with some of the team's newest additions such as Taylor Hall and Corey Perry, both of whom have found the back of the net to start the season. Or that they pulled off a come-from-behind win against a stacked Pittsburgh Penguins team in their first game of the season.
Granted, the Blackhawks haven't made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2015 when they won their third Stanley Cup in six years. (Chicago is a 200-1 long shot to do that, by the way.) Their schedule isn't getting any easier either, with games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights all coming up in the second week of the season.
That being said, the hockey world will no doubt be keeping tabs on the Blackhawks' chances of making their way back into the Stanley Cup playoffs. And be watching the impact Bedard is having in the process.
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