The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Connor Bedard first overall in 2023 with the hopes of him becoming the generational star that he was touted to be while playing major junior with the Regina Pats.
So far, he's been an above-average player in the NHL, and he's not even 20 years old. Over his two years in the league as an 18 and 19-year-old, Bedard came one point shy of Chicago's record for points by a teenager.
That included an injury stint in his rookie season that kept him out for 14 games (he played all 82 during his sophomore season). He likely would have smashed the record if he had never missed those matches.
Despite all of that success, he has left a lot to be desired. When you enter an organization with the hype that Bedard did, big things are expected. For Bedard, he will get there. It takes time to reach the heights of the stars in the modern NHL.
After playing in every game of the 2024-25 campaign, Bedard decided to take some rest over the summer instead of heading to the IIHF World Championships.
According to a report on social media by Scott Powers of The Athletic, Bedard was invited by Team Canada but he will not be going.
Some folks may have wanted to see Bedard get to Worlds so he can continue working on his craft. The collective decision was made for him to begin his offseason program without playing in those games.
During exit interviews following Chicago's season coming to an end, Connor Bedard talked about working on his speed during the off-season. Playing for Team Canada won't help him get a head start with that plan.
If Connor Bedard has a big summer in terms of his speed and strength, the skills are there for him to take a huge step in production during year three. That should lead to a lot more winning for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bedard has made it clear that doing right by his NHL organization is his top priority. He will have plenty of other chances to represent Team Canada down the line.
