Connor Bedard’s sophomore NHL season hasn’t been as impressive as his rookie one. On Wednesday, NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette called out the Chicago Blackhawks phenom, dissing his game as “pond hockey.” Now, Bedard has responded with a very clear message.
Bedard lit up the NHL in his rookie season. He entered his first year with the Blackhawks as one of the most hyped young players since Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. Everyone expected him to improve even more in his sophomore season, but that hasn’t quite happened. He has 46 points through 51 games, and his 15 goals place him just inside the top 100 in the league.
But Bedard isn’t the only one struggling. The Blackhawks have the second-worst record in the league (16-31-6). During their loss to the Oilers earlier this week, Paul Bissonnette broke down Bedard’s play during the second intermission on NHL on TNT.
Paul Bissonnette slammed Connor Bedard
BizNasty—also the co-host of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast—was critical of Bedard, even claiming he is playing “pond hockey.”
“Sometimes I see him continue to try things that aren’t going to work at the NHL level—like soft plays that are just going to get picked off and go back the other way,” Bissonnette said. “As much good as he does, sometimes he doesn’t do great things.”
Bissonnette backed up his argument with highlights of Bedard turning the puck over and taking penalties, adding that Bedard is part of the reason the Blackhawks are losing games.
“There are so many details to his game that he’s lacking right now. Yes, he might put up 30–35 goals a season and get his 50–55 assists by playing on the power play and getting all these minutes. But they’re going to continue to lose hockey games. That is pond hockey,” Bissonnette added.
“If the Blackhawks want to get back to their dynastic ways, that’s not how they’re going to be playing hockey. If he’s playing like that, they’re going to be a lottery team because it’s going to trickle down the lineup. If you’re the best player on the team and that’s how you’re playing, it’s just not going to work.”
Bedard’s response to BizNasty
On Thursday, Bedard responded to the criticism, sending a clear message to the experts, including Bissonnette.
“I’m not watching broadcasts or anything. I’m playing hockey,” Bedard said, per Chicago Sun-Times reporter Ben Pope. “Their job is to say what they see. I couldn’t care less what people on the outside think of me. But I’m not going to be butthurt if someone says I made a bad play. It’s their job.”
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