Huge blow to Connor Bedard at the worst time!

On Wednesday, we pointed out, like many fans and pundits did on social media, that first overall pick Connor Bedard was having a hard time at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Czechia. The 18-year-old forward led the Chicago Blackhawks and NHL rookies with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games in 2023-24, but overseas, he is not the same player. Then, it had been revealed that Bedard was held without a point for the fourth straight game on Tuesday night and was even benched by the head coach, skating just 8:08 and 10 shifts, the lowest of any forward on Team Canada. He did not play a single shift during overtime.

He had opened the tournament with five goals and an assist in his first three contests.

On Thursday, it got worse. Bedard was slotted in as the extra and 13th forward on the chart, with leading roles given to players like Nick Paul, Brandon Tanev, Jack McBain, Michael Bunting and Andrew Mangiapane by head coach Andre Tourigny.

Bedard was used sporadically, totalling 12 minutes of ice time, though he did manage to get back on the scoresheet as he recorded an assist in Canada’s 6-3 win over Slovakia in quarterfinal action at the world hockey championship. He also finished with three shots on goal and was plus-1.

Paul scored twice, and Jared McCann, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Guenther and Brandon Tanev also scored for the defending champions.

Canada moves on to the final four for the ninth consecutive tournament, but this is the time for Bedard to show what he’s truly capable of. Let’s not forget: the guy is named one of three finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.”

Good thing the voting has been done, or else, some could have some arguments against him when it comes to high pressure events.

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