Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard hopes to use 4 Nations snub as motivation

This season keeps getting more frustrating for Chicago Blackhawks All-Star Connor Bedard.

He has been in a sophomore slump when it comes to scoring goals. He has just five through the season's first 26 games.

Now he has been left off Canada's roster for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.

This is not the first time Canada left a budding superstar off the roster for an international tournament. Sidney Crosby, one of Bedard's heroes, did not make Canada's Olympic roster in the 2006 games (a subscription is required to access content).

Team Canada was a tough roster to crack with all the star power they have. Zach Hyman, Alexis Lafreniere, and Mark Scheifele also got snubbed.

It might be a surprise to see former Blackhawks forward Brandon Hagel make the squad, but Canada wanted to build a team, not an All-Star team (even if this tournament is replacing the All-Star Game).

Bedard hopes to use this as motivation.

#Blackhawks F Connor Bedard, to the TNT crew, on not making Canada's Four Nations roster: "You kind of sleep in the bed you make. I haven't been too happy with the start of the year. You can try to use something like that for a little motivation & that's what I'm going to do."
— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) December 5, 2024

Hopefully, this is what the wunderkind needs to get going when it comes to lighting up the lamp. Although having consistent linemates might also work.

"Connor Bedard is worth the price of admission." @DavidHaugh and @BrookeFletcher on how the changing of lines are affecting Connor Bedard and what it means for the rest of the team on The Chicago Lead. pic.twitter.com/VwwSwPWFzP
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) December 4, 2024

Even then, it might be finding just one more teammate on the top line since Bedard has been skating with Taylor Hall since November 23rd. Bedard has two goals and two assists since Hall was moved up to the top line.

Head coach Luke Richardson tried to see if Bedard and Philipp Kurashev could rekindle the chemistry they had last season. That lasted three games before Kurashev was recently replaced by Tyler Bertuzzi.

Maybe putting Bertuzzi together with Bedard can get both going.

Uniting Tyler Bertuzzi with Connor Bedard was a long-overdue move.

It could be helpful for Bedard, which is most important. But it's also imperative that the Blackhawks find a way to ignite Bertuzzi.

Postgame story from Toronto:https://t.co/GnuqYKoYbH
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 3, 2024

Also, being 19 and going through this adversity are some of the reasons Team Canada GM Don Sweeney decided not to put Bedard on the team. His struggles have made it possible for Canada to feel no need to rush Connor onto a roster for a marquee international event such as this--even if it is a glorified spectacle trying to draw interest to the game.

Bedard is still having a fine season with 14 assists. He had eight assists at this point during last season. He just set the bar high when it came to scoring goals, as he had 11 goals by December 5th during his rookie season.

However, his struggles might be getting amplified with how bad the Blackhawks offense is this season.

Luke Richardson gave a very honest answer when asked today about Connor Bedard having a sophomore slump:
"I look at his stats and 19 points, to me, is not a slump. But to him and the outside expectations, probably thinking he could have more. On a team that had a little more…
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 2, 2024

Maybe this snub is what he needs to get locked in and score goals at the pace he did on his way toward winning the Calder Trophy.

Now he has been left off Canada's roster for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.

Bedard hopes to use this as motivation.

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