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Connor Bedard has been considered one of the next faces of hockey for a long time. His "Wunderkind" status has followed him at every stop, including the NHL after his first overall selection in the 2023 draft. That carries a lot of good things with it, but there are also downsides.
Even as a rookie, and an 18-year-old at that, he was largely the face of the team and the person the media wanted to talk to even if he wasn't totally relevant to what was going on.
That caught the attention of his linemate Philipp Kurashev. He saw all the things his teammate had to go through in his first season with the Chicago Blackhawks, and it prompted some sympathy according to The Hockey News:
"Sometimes I felt sorry for him," Kurashev said. "He was our player who had to talk to the media the most often. When it had to do with our team, he was always referred to. He had constant appointments — interviews, photoshoots, and what else I don't even know. Even at hotels or on the street, everyone constantly wanted something from him."
Kurashev could even sense that attention in the game. Whenever the puck went to Bedard, he knew all eyes were on the rookie. Every fan in the building had their eyes peeled to see what he'd do, a pressure Kurashev did not envy.
Connor Bedard opens up on pedigree after rookie season
Connor Bedard completed his rookie season with the Blackhawks, pouring in 22 goals and 39 assists in 68 appearances. He is a promising talent who faced high expectations but wasn't too worried about them.
Via The Hockey News, Bedard said:
"If you had asked me that a couple of years ago, maybe it's different," Bedard said. "I'm grown up now. It's not really the same as much anymore. I'm just playing hockey and just kind of living my life. I'm not too worried about any of it."
