Blackhawks' Connor Bedard should've taken Jeremy Roenick's advice after all

Jeremy Roenick's Advice Rings True as Connor Bedard Endures Back to Back Game Misconducts

Back in January 2025, Jeremy Roenick offered some advice to Chicago Blackhawks young star Connor Bedard, stating that the 19-year-old to develop a thicker skin to handle the pressures of being an NHL superstar.

Just two months later, it's becoming evident that Bedard might have benefited from taking his advice.

Bedard entered the league with "franchise-altering" expectations to turn around the Blackhawks franchise, but unfortunately it has not been enough to alter the 31st team in the NHL standings.

Bedard's recent on-ice behavior reveals he may not be adjusted to the big spotlight yet, and he should've taken advice from Roenick.

Roenick told Bedard that thriving as a teenager in a "man's sport" requires thick skin.

"I always think when you have young kids that have such high expectations coming into a man's world it's a very, very, very rare special player that can prosper and survive," Roenick said. "Bedard is smaller and he will grow into himself. He will learn the game but he just has to learn and create some thick skin and understand what all the pressures and trials and tribulations that come along with being this NHL superstar and a team leader."

Fast forward to March 2025, and Bedard's emotional maturity is at an all-time low.

In back-to-back games, Bedard has picked up 10-minute misconduct penalties.

It's clear that he's frustrated in the spotlight, and is in need of some thick skin to get through this tough time of a rebuild in Chicago.

Bedard's mental growth throughout the next few seasons will be crucial for his development, as he can't grow too much serving 10-minute penalties in the box.