Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are set up to take on the Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews roles

The Generational Player

It was the worst kept secret in the hockey world. The Chicago Blackhawks were going to select Connor Bedard at #1 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Kyle Davidson knew he hit the jackpot on Lottery Night when the Blackhawks jumped up from #3 to land the top pick. He knew Connor Bedard was the first generational draft prospect available since Auston Matthews went to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016. He knew whose name would be on the card just one month later.

Of course, he couldn't reveal it. Whether it was a Lottery night interview, offseason press conference, or a cameo as Kyle from Chicago on the streets of Nashville, he kept their nearly automatic decision to himself.

Most people say the hardest part of a rebuild is landing a franchise player. You need an elite player, someone who can be the face of the team, a superstar you can build around. Somehow, in just his 2nd draft as the permanent GM of the Blackhawks, and early on in his attempt at a full-scale rebuild, Connor Bedard fell right into his hands.

Building a Foundation

Fast forward to today, and most hockey fans seem to believe the Blackhawks are a catastrophe. Their tumultuous two seasons since Bedard arrived convinced everybody that nothing has changed. A mid-season coaching change, significant roster turnover, constant shuttles to and from Rockford, and two finishes with the 2nd best Lottery odds was indeed a rocky (no pun intended) ride. But if you believe there is no hope for the future, you haven't been paying attention.

New head coach Jeff Blashill will steer the ship the right direction after way too many aimless first-time coaches. And his belief in the young core will be the key to building a contender:

"We have a number of great, great, young players in the system and also young players that are going to be with us to start the season in Chicago and knocking on the door in Rockford. We have an opportunity to have depth at every position and, honestly, potential superstars at every position, and that's very, very, unique in this league."

I concur: potential superstars AT EVERY POSITION.

Forward: Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar

Defense: Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Alex Vlasic

Goalie: Spencer Knight

Not to mention Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Drew Commesso, and all of the other promising prospects who could exceed expectations.

What other team had superstars at every position? The 2010s Blackhawks. At least 4 Hall of Famers had a stint during the championship runs. Duncan Keith was drafted in 2002 as the earliest member of the future championship core. Jonathan Toews (2006) and Patrick Kane (2007) arrived a few years later.

On a team full of stars, award winners, and tough blue-collar players who were beloved in the city of Chicago, the dynamic duo of Kane and Toews became the leaders of the pack. They were attached. It was like Jordan and Pippen, Rizzo and Bryant, and other champions we have admired. They were the faces of the franchise and embodied everything about the historic dynasty. They brought lifeless Blackhawks hockey out of the darkness. A superstar tandem can put you in the race every single year.

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar can take hold of the Kane and Toews roles in the next era.

Bedard and Nazar = Kane and Toews?

Patrick Kane: #1 overall pick, wicked shot, elite playmaking, high-level scorer, obsessed with hockey

Jonathan Toews: Not #1 overall, drafted 1 year before Kane, elite two-way center, captain, confident

Do those descriptions look familiar? With some projection, they match Bedard and Nazar VERY well. Here's my disclaimer that obviously none of these players are the same, and the young guys can/will never live up to 2 of the greatest hockey players of all-time. However, as we enter this shift from downtrodden tear-down to ascent up the mountain, they look the part.

Bedard dealt with a fractured jaw, a billion line combinations, and figuring out how to adjust to the NHL. Even though there were occasional struggles in his first two seasons, he was clouded with a negative perception that was completely unfounded. He doesn’t even turn 20 until July 17th. It’s like players need time to develop, gain strength, and mature in the league.

Even so, he has 128 points (45g/83a) in 150 career games, which is 0.85 points/game. Those 128 points are the 13th most points scored by a teenager in NHL history, and he overtook Eddie Olczyk as the franchise leader in assists (83) by a teenager. His shot is as powerful as advertised, and the Blackhawks offense has been running through his ability to carry the puck and set up his teammates.

On a losing squad, Bedard started matching up against opponents’ top lines and focusing more on his forechecking. He’s been on the ice for 20:03 mins/game and logged a ton of time on the power play. Clutch goals are already on his resume with 7 GWGs and 2 overtime winners, as his first was at the United Center on December 27, 2023 against the Winnipeg Jets.

What I am certain about is exactly what Jeff Blashill mentioned: Bedard has the drive to be great. Nick Foligno has had to kick him out of the rink too many times. All he wants to do is be on the ice. His feature video alongside Victor Wembanyama in January 2024 was perfect: it showcased two #1 picks who have been destined for this stardom since they were little kids. He’s been training for this for his entire life.

Nazar entered the picture a year earlier than Bedard as Kyle Davidson’s 2nd draft pick as GM (13th overall, 2022). The University of Michigan was his first stop after draft night as he carried a different trajectory than Bedard. Unfortunately, surgery to repair a hip injury kept him out for most of his freshman year at Michigan. His development timeline was suddenly in question for the Hawks.

After returning for only 13 games in his freshman year, he excelled in his first and only complete collegiate season in 2023-2024. He finished with 41 points (17g/24a) in 41 games and decided to make the jump to the NHL.

As an “undersized” 5’10” center, Nazar’s ceiling has been questioned since he was drafted. With impressive speed and offensive skills, he was a key piece to the rebuild, but when would he contribute? His brief stint in Rockford to begin the 2024-2025 season must have done wonders because we saw superstar Frank Nazar appear to finish out the year.

He was the best player on the ice in April with 9 points in 8 games and stood out on every single shift. The finish wasn’t always there, but he frequently found himself with the puck on his stick and a prime scoring chance. His movement off the puck led to takeaways, and everyone else started to look sluggish compared to his top speed.

Nazar may only have 27 points (13g/14a) in just 56 career games, but he already took the next step. We knew the playmaking would be there. What we didn’t expect was the 44.6% rate on faceoffs as a rookie, the strong defensive play, and veteran-like leadership.

Going from scoring a goal on his first career NHL shot to sprinting the length of the ice to prevent an empty netter against Vegas this past March has already showcased a whirlwind development timeline. After capping off an impressive second half with a 12-point masterclass for Team USA at the World Championships, Nazar is full steam ahead into his 2nd full season as a Hawk.

The young players gravitate towards him, and he has a mature perspective on the game. He believes in playing for your teammates, doing your job, and never taking a shift off.

Who else would you want alongside a generational scoring talent like Bedard?

The New Dynamic Duo

“He’s been unbelievable…he thinks the game so well…his growth has been remarkable…he’s a fun guy to play with.”

Connor Bedard raved about his teammate after they connected for a Nazar overtime winner in Ottawa to end the season.

The uninformed hockey world may think Bedard hates Chicago and nobody on the roster gets along. In reality, these two already have a great chemistry that will continue to grow. I believe they are the best two players on the roster and will only cement that fact as they develop. With no disrespect to Alex Vlasic who has been an elite defender over the last two seasons, two top-line centers with the type of high-end skills they possess take the crown.

As we cling to any hope for Chicago sports success, that overtime goal was a perfect encapsulation of why the Hawks are set up so well moving forward.

Now for the real question: Are they both centers? They were 1C and 2C for most of the second half but spent some time together on the top line. I don’t know what position the organization believes they will each settle into long-term. The Blackhawks #3 draft pick in late June may be the telling sign, or a center will be the obvious choice based on available talent, which would require 1 of the 3 players to move to the wing.

I believe Bedard has the determination to be a great center. It sounds like he wants to play there. Yanic Perreault can keep coaching him up on faceoffs. But for now, Nazar is already a more effective center. And that’s why I land on Nazar most likely staying at center and Bedard most likely moving to wing.

The days of Jonathan Toews on the top line and Patrick Kane on the second line, except when Coach Q went nuclear, could return.

Nazar can take the reigns of this team as a vocal leader and get comfortable as 1C. Nick Foligno is still around, so a new captain won’t be determined for a while, but Nazar could be the choice. Sign me up for a tough, dependable, two-way center who shows up for his teammates each and every night for the next decade. He’s kind of Captain Serious already with a heavy dose of swag.

Bedard can be the leading points scorer in the league and be relieved of some responsibilities on the wing. He’ll play hard, he’ll improve in the neutral zone, but his shot will be his trademark. Certain hockey players make you stop what you’re doing and watch in disbelief, in the likes of Connor McDavid. Patrick Kane was at a 0.87 points/game pace in his first 2 seasons combined. Bedard’s right on pace.

Sure, joining a rebuild on the front end is a completely different experience. But maybe it’ll be more rewarding for them in the end. Maybe they’ll be more scarred and more calloused for future playoff games.

The rest of the roster will soon be here to join them, and there will be stars on the ice every single night. I’m ready for Bedard and Nazar to lead the Hawks back into contention. After they win a championship, we won’t be able to say their names apart.