Bedard's sophomore expectations

In partnership with

CAN’T MISS HOCKEY NEWS 🎯

🚨 Montreal Canadiens acquire Patrik Laine for defenseman Jordan Harris and 2026 2nd-round pick. The Habs acquire the former 2nd overall pick just a week after Blue Jackets’ GM Don Waddell confirmed the forward “thought a change of scenery was best for him.” Despite scoring 80 goals across his first two NHL seasons in Winnipeg, Laine scored 6 goals in just 18 games for the Blue Jackets last season thanks to a concussion followed by entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in late January indefinitely. Hopefully, under Martin St. Louis’ tutelage, Laine can return to his previous sniper form. Columbus will not retain any of Laine’s $8.7M salary while adding smooth skating defenseman Harris and a 2nd round pick. Read more →

🛢️ Edmonton Oilers making moves: trade away Cody Ceci and 3rd round pick to Sharks for Ty Emberson, acquire Vasily Podkolzin for 4th round pick from Canucks. Ceci, 30, recorded 25 points in 79 regular-season games plus 5 points in the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final. He has one year left on his four-year, $13 million contract. Emberson, 24, had 10 points in 30 games with the Sharks last season while forward Vasily Podkolzin had two assists in 19 games last season for the Canucks. The moves are widely speculated as trying to curtail the effects of the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheets to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway — the Ceci deal should free up cap space to match Broberg’s offer while Podkolzin could be considered a cheap replacement of Holloway. Read more →

❓What should we expect of Connor Bedard’s sophomore campaign? Despite missing 14 games with a fractured jaw, the North Vancouver native had an impressive rookie season scoring 22 goals and adding 39 assists for 61 points in 68 games-played. He averaged 0.324 goals and 0.897 points per game, putting him on pace for 26 goals and 73 points had he played all 82-games.

Assuming Bedard dedicates a portion of his offseason to improve in the faceoff circle and defensive end (he won only 38.9% of his draws and racked up a -44 last season), he and the Blackhawks can anticipate more puck possession and therefore offense.

And with Taylor Hall expected to be fully recovered by the start of the season, plus, the offseason additions of Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, Bedard should have a stronger supporting cast to create offense.

With the Blackhawks center turning 19 just over a month ago on July 17th, we’re dying to know how his sophomore campaign will stack up against other recent 1st overall draft picks turned perennial Hart Trophy finalists.

Regardless of his performance this coming season, Nathan MacKinnon’s sophomore campaign reminds us an NHL career is a marathon, not a sprint, as he failed to collect even 40 points his 2nd season, meanwhile, he just won the Hart Trophy after putting up 140 points last season.

Frank Corrado and Bryan Hayes, TSN hockey analysts, debated this July if Bedard will reach the 90-point mark this season, which is one hell of an over-under for the budding superstar… so good in fact, we want your vote in today’s poll. 👇

POLL 🗳️

ICYMI 📸

Childhood friends Matthew Tkachuk and Jayson Tatum recreate their old viral bus photo after throwing out the 1st pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals game Sunday afternoon. 🤣

QUICK HITS ⚡️

• How John Tavares handled passing Maple Leafs' captaincy to Auston Matthews (Sportsnet)

• Penguins’ Kyle Dubas Continues to Focus on the Future with Cody Glass Trade (The Hockey Writers)

• Predators expect Askarov at camp after reported trade request (theScore)

• Ryan Getzlaf joins NHL Department of Player Safety (NHL.com)

• Wrigley to host college hockey doubleheaders after Winter Classic (ESPN)

• New Lawsuit Against NCAA Could Open Door to CHL Players (Breakaway on SI)

COACHES CORNER 🏒

• 2 compound drills that include give-and-go passing, pivots, tight turns, and soft touches before ending with a shot (Ilya Khanenko)

• 2 chest and core focused exercises to train like a hockey player (360 Total Performance Inc.)

TRIVIA 🧠