Connor Bedard still has a lot of work to do for the Blackhawks

Connor Bedard is still the Chicago Blackhawks' franchise player hands down, despite being in a goal-less slump (yes, he scored against the LA Kings but that's not his signature). Bedard is known for his release, not net-front presence like Joe Pavelski used to be, so while it is nice he scored off a lucky bounce, the shot is what we should be looking for more. Bedard is shooting the puck constantly, yes, but there is a lot to be said about where and how he gets the shots off. Is he beating the defense? Is he fooling the goalie with where the shot is going to go? Snipers can't just score on perfect one-timers; they have to be a threat everywhere with a history of scoring wherever they are in the NHL.

He has had many good looks this season, the shot just barely going off the goalie's shoulder or blocker, or hitting the post. He is still getting swarmed by the opposition, but how is he attempting to get open ice? This is another thing he needs to work on. The Los Angeles Kings are a defense-first team with a very passive system, forcing the breakout into bad positions. Bedard commented that the Kings have a "boring style" that "doesn't drive much offense," but he has to learn to deal with it.

Winning hockey is finding ways to win even when the cards are stacked against you, which we saw a lot of in the Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews era of hockey, where the team found ways to win in the clutch. 2013 against the Boston Bruins, the Toews-led comeback in game five against the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, and the 3-1 comeback against Detroit in 2013. The team faced difficult odds to overcome, and they did with their own skill and compete level. They found ways to win and were willing to adjust their style to do so. Whether it was focusing on defense and allowing the bottom-six to do the work or letting others shine instead of the stars, that was what the Blackhawks were known for.

It is important for Bedard to stay the course in his offensive game, he is right on the brink of a breakout. The bounces are starting to go his way, and the goals should come as often as his assists. While his talent is obvious, the maturity and will to win by any means necessary are still absent based on his words after the loss to the Kings. This is where the majority of the work will be.