Hall of Famer Chris Chelios is never afraid to say it like it is. His latest message to the Chicago Blackhawks is one the organization can’t afford to ignore: Connor Bedard needs help.
Bedard has the talent to change the future of the franchise, but as Chelios pointed out, you can’t throw a 19-year-old into the fire every night and expect him to carry the weight of an entire rebuild. Even the game’s greatest stars had support around them when they first broke in.
Patrick Kane had Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, and later Marian Hossa. Sidney Crosby had veterans like Petr Sýkora, Pascal Dupuis, and Sergei Gonchar. Generational players don’t succeed in isolation — they succeed because their organizations build the right environment.
Chelios’s Warning: Don’t Waste a Generational Talent
Chelios knows the grind of Chicago hockey, and he sees the danger in Bedard’s situation. Every opponent builds their game plan around shutting down #98. He’s constantly facing top-pairing defenders, penalty killers, and the toughest assignments. That’s not fair to a teenager.
Chelios isn’t criticizing Bedard — he’s protecting him. His point is clear: the Hawks must provide a stronger supporting cast, or they risk stunting his growth. Even Connor McDavid didn’t become the player he is today until Edmonton found the right mix of linemates, depth, and coaching to balance the load.
This is the heart of Chelios’s message: don’t waste a generational player by surrounding him with mediocrity.
Jeff Blashill’s Task: Teach Bedard the Complete Game
If Chelios is the warning, Jeff Blashill is the teacher. After working alongside Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay and watching players like Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov evolve into winners, Blashill understands what it takes to help a star reach another level.
For Bedard, this isn’t just about scoring goals — it’s about becoming a 200-foot center.
- Learning the Defensive Game: Look around the league. Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, and even Nick Suzuki all entered the NHL as pure offensive threats. But as they gained experience, they mastered the defensive side. Now they play on the penalty kill, they win faceoffs in key moments, and they carry more responsibility than ever. This is where Blashill must guide Bedard.
- Faceoffs and Special Teams:To be a true number-one center, Bedard needs to win draws. Faceoffs are the gateway to possession and control. Matthews and Suzuki grew into reliable faceoff men, and Bedard must follow the same path. With time, he can be trusted in penalty-killing and shutdown situations.
- Chemistry with the Right Linemates: Blashill also has to solve the puzzle of who fits best beside Bedard. Ryan Donato quietly had the best season of his career, and Bedard was a big reason. Could new addition André Burakovsky be the missing third piece? If Blashill finds the right mix, Bedard won’t always be left fighting uphill battles alone.
Chelios is right — Bedard needs help. But Blashill’s role is to make sure he develops into a complete player while that help is on the way.
Kyle Davidson’s Responsibility — Build the Supporting Cast
The hardest job in a rebuild belongs to the general manager. Kyle Davidson has drafted well and stacked the prospect pool, but now comes the toughest phase: roster construction.
Other rebuilding teams provide lessons. Ottawa struggled for years because they didn’t surround their core with top-six veterans until very recently. It took them almost eight years to figure it out. Detroit is still trying. Buffalo, despite all their talent, has never found the right mix.
Davidson can’t let Chicago fall into the same trap.
- Find Top-Six Wingers: Bedard needs linemates who can finish plays. Prospect Anton Frondell may eventually be part of the answer, but he’s still two years away. In the short term, Davidson must bring in proven top-six scorers.
- Add the Right Veterans: Nick Foligno has been an outstanding leader, but the Hawks need more than one veteran voice. A solid, 28-year-old player with 8+ years of NHL experience could stabilize the lineup. Someone like Kyle Connor, a potential UFA next summer, would be a game-changer.
- Use Cap Space and Assets: The Blackhawks have money to spend, a strong farm system, and the flexibility to make a big trade. This next 12 months is critical — Davidson must use that leverage to put the right pieces around Bedard.
Rebuilds take time, but roster construction is the most important and most difficult phase of any rebuild. Get it right, and you accelerate the path to contention. Get it wrong, and the team risks spinning its wheels for years.
Final Thoughts
Connor Bedard is already the face of the Blackhawks. He’s electric, he’s gifted, and he’s willing to put in the work. But Chelios is right — he can’t do it alone.
For Chicago’s rebuild to succeed:
- Chelios has sounded the alarm.
- Blashill must mold Bedard into a complete 200-foot center.
- Davidson must surround him with real NHL talent, not just prospects.
If all three deliver, the Blackhawks won’t just have a star — they’ll have the foundation for another dynasty. But if they miss the moment, Bedard’s brilliance could be wasted.
The message from Chelios couldn’t be louder: surround your best player.
Happy Labor Day, friends.
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