Blackhawks fans can believe in 2025 Connor Bedard even after nonexistent offseason

So far, Connor Bedard has 128 points and 45 goals across 150 career games. Break that down into 82-game averages, and he's a 70-point, 25-goal player.

Not bad for a kid who made the team right out of the gate and one so devoid of talent, he was often the only real reason for fans to show up. Still, many of those same fans wanted to see more than what Bedard's given them throughout his first two seasons in the league.

He's been good, but not great. He's shown flashes of elite hockey, but hasn't yet elevated anyone's game. His defenders point to the fact he's never played for an even remotely good hockey team while his critics will say that he needs to step up and make the Blackhawks better.

For me, I'm on middle ground. Yep, Bedard needs to step up and elevate everyone else. That's what generational talents do. But you also can't help others level up if they have no business playing in the NHL to begin with, and there have been a lot of miscast players in Chicago since Bedard got there.

A nonexistent offseason means more of the same for Bedard and the Blackhawks, right?

By now, you probably know that I'm holding a little more optimism here. Nonexistent offseason besides Andre Burakovsky coming to town and Ryan Donato returning to town? Sure.

But I can't stress enough that with Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen also here, that the Hawks could have an underrated top six with Bedard leading the way. And by leading the way, that also means he'll be bringing in more points and goals.

So, to make the 'way too early' projection, where's Bedard landing in 2025-26 with more experience and not half-bad talent around him? How does 26 goals, a 12.9 shooting percentage, and 50 assists sound as the floor?

That's 76 points in 82 games, and while it's not earth-shattering, it's the floor. Last season, Bedard figured out how to overcome a scoring drought and when he did, his play grew consistent. This season, here in the summer and roughly 90 days before the puck drops? Hey, I'm excited for Bedard.

Connor Bedard could cross the point-per-game mark and beyond if he gets a little more help

If the Blackhawks are playing the kids more often this season, then someone like Frank Nazar should also make a leap now that he's got some NHL experience. Should that happen, and Nazar can be a 40-plus-point producer, that effect will impact Bedard even more.

Like I said, the 76-point projection is a floor, not a ceiling. Should this team step up, an 85 or 90-point season's realistic, even if the Hawks didn't add any real glamor to their lineup last week and probably won't pull off a big trade or anything as the next season approaches.

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