CHICAGO — Connor Bedard is so different than he was a year ago.

Remember the stick slams, all his facial gestures being dissected on the bench, the frustration expressed in his interviews and just his overall displeasure of failing to meet individual expectations coupled with all the losing? Nineteen-year-olds playing in the NHL shouldn’t be miserable, but he was in a lot of ways. He just wanted so badly to play well and at least give the Blackhawks a chance to win games.

That was only a season ago, but it all feels so much longer. Twenty-year-old Bedard is such a different player and person. That shouldn’t be entirely unexpected. Bedard has gone through the type of physical and mental growth that can happen at his age. And now, he’s faster, stronger, smarter, more experienced, more disciplined and less temperamental.

On Tuesday, all those forms of maturation were on full display for Bedard in the Blackhawks’ 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Wearing a leadership letter for the first time in the regular season, Bedard showcased on and off the ice why he might just be the franchise’s next captain.

With veterans Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson out with injuries, Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill decided to place an “A” on Bedard’s jersey leading up to the game because of what Blashill had seen leading up to the game.

“He’s earned that opportunity,” Blashill said. “One of the things we talked about at the beginning of the year is making sure we earn things, that we’re not entitled to success, we’re not entitled to wear a letter, we’re not entitled to any of that stuff and in his case, he’s absolutely earned it. He’s earned it and when I told different people around the team today, everybody said the same thing, it makes total sense and he’s totally earned it. He’s earned it with his approach every day and how committed he’s been to winning hockey.”

Bedard’s first goal was a prime example. Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel had elevated a puck high into the air from the defensive zone, and it soared towards the end of the rink. Bedard chased after it along with a few Flames. Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf looked to play the puck as it rolled towards the net, but he missed it with his stick. Bedard never quit, kept skating, got a touch of the puck on his stick and knocked it past Wolf.

Bedard understood the goal was lucky in a lot of ways, but he also admitted it’s the type of play he and his teammates have committed to not stopping on this season.

“I think all of our guys are hunting that puck,” Bedard said. “I think that could have been a very nothing play that ended up. I just happened to be the guy out there. All 11, 12 of our forwards or whatever are going to make the same effort, which is why we’re having success right now.”

Regardless of anyone’s effort, Bedard’s second goal of night likely couldn’t have been repeated by any of the Blackhawks. It was pure Bedard. With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, Ryan Greene made a smart read along the left side, finding Bedard across the ice in the right circle. Bedard pulled his stick back as only he seemingly can, hid his release point, and slung the puck over Wolf’s left shoulder into the net.

CONNOR BEDARD WITH THE TOP SHELF BEAUTY FOR THE LEAD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DjBoc1b6fD

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) November 19, 2025

For the second time in 10 games and in his NHL career, Bedard finished off a hat trick, too. He launched a shot from the defensive zone and sent it skidding into the Flames’ empty net. Blackhawks fans filled the ice with hats to celebrate.

In the last 10 games, Bedard has scored 10 goals, dished out 11 assists and produced 21 points. The Blackhawks have gone 5-3-2 with 12 points in that span. Tuesday’s win extended their points streak to six games.

“He’s been huge for us,” Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato said. “Stepped up again tonight. That’s what stars do. He had an amazing game. It’s fun to watch. He’s obviously stepping up. Had the letter on tonight, so it was fun. That’s what leaders do, and he’s doing a great job of it. Hopefully he continues to do the right things like that.”

For Blashill, that’s been the most impressive part.

“You know what I like the most about it is the consistency in his approach,” Blashill said. “Points do come and go. Now for a guy like him, they come more than they go but his consistency in his approach has been really good. The fact that he’s come and competed and stopped on pucks and played pretty good defensively and really tries to do the right things on a consistent basis, and then he gets rewarded for that with offense over this stretch that he’s been kind of going. So it’s a great thing. As we’ve talked about, he’s a very, very talented player but what makes him a winning hockey player is his approach.”

He shared the responsibility of acting as an assistant captain with veteran Connor Murphy. When Murphy was on the wrong side of a dangerous hit by the Flames’ Adam Klapka, it was up to Bedard to discuss it with the officials.

“I was just arguing our side of what we saw,” Bedard said. “Obviously it was a dirty hit. I think he had time to kind of come back off it, and it’s right at the head. You don’t want to see that from anyone in the game. That’s kind of what we saw. Obviously they saw something different. Murph goes down, it’s a quick hockey game and stuff happens, but we thought he could have kind of held up and not gone directly to the head. That’s all what we were saying and they’re going to argue their side.”

Overall, Bedard enjoyed having the officials’ ears in a different way. He found they were more welcoming, too.

“The refs were way nicer to me today,” Bedard said. “Way nicer. I didn’t get kicked out of a draw for the first time in my career. It was good. I think you watch guys go over there, I always have something to say to the refs, so it was fun. It’s good little added responsibilities that you appreciate. It’s obviously not a big thing, but it’s good, I guess.”

Bedard didn’t play down what it meant to wear the letter either.

“It’s great, for sure,” Bedard said “I’ve been so fortunate to learn from guys like Fliggy, Dicky, Murph, all those guys that have been leaders in our room. Obviously the Blackhawks jersey in general is such a special thing. There have been a lot of great players who have a letter on their chest and it’s a great honor and something I don’t take lightly and no one would take lightly. It’s cool, for sure.”

Bedard also isn’t taking for granted how different the mood is around the Blackhawks this season. He hasn’t forgotten what the last few years were like around the room.

“It’s been fun,” Bedard said. “We’re obviously early, 19 games in, but it’s just been a lot of fun. We’re so determined to go out there and win. You know even today, we give up a goal, obviously get them back into the game end of the second, right at the start of the third they score, that’s something that can deflate a team, but we go back out there, we get another one, then we get another one. We’re just really determined. We have a lot fun together. We love each other and we want to play for each other. That shows a lot.”