However left on the skin trying in for Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, Bedard took the prospect to soak within the event and his nation’s event victory from a distance.
“Simply an unreal sport,” Bedard stated Friday from Chicago Blackhawks apply of Canada’s 3-2 additional time win over america. “Shut as it may be for competitors… So, it is tremendous enjoyable to look at. As a Canadian, you are blissful they pulled it off.”
How a lot did Bedard fan out when Connor McDavid buried the event clincher?
“I used to be excited to see them win, however I am not leaping up and down. I suppose I am smiling,” Bedard stated with amusing. “I feel anybody will get somewhat fired up watching whenever you’re seeing the rivalry. I used to be excited once they gained in OT, however simply so enjoyable to look at.”
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The 19-year-old hockey sensation has already had his fair proportion of worldwide competitors, sporting the Maple Leaf at six totally different tournaments, together with gold medal efforts on the IIHF U-18 World Championships in 2021 and the world juniors in 2022 and 2023.
However because the rivalry between Canada and the USA ratcheted up all through the 4 Nations event, Bedard could not assist however take into consideration what comes subsequent for best-on-best hockey.
“You watch these video games and simply how shut it’s… I feel if there is a best-of-seven collection, it is most likely going to Sport 7, to additional time,” he stated. “It is good for the game, simply how aggressive quite a lot of nations are, and clearly, that is a giant rivalry that is in a very good place proper now.
“To suppose that there is going to be the Olympics subsequent 12 months, too, it’s going to be much more ramped up. So, it may be fairly cool that we get that best-on-best again.”
So far as his place on Canada’s roster on the Milano Cortina Video games, the Blackhawks’ factors chief insists he is not considering that far forward.
Nevertheless, he did acknowledge what the chance represents.
“When you ask anybody, they clearly need to be (on the crew),” Bedard stated. “If anybody will get that chance, they’d be over the moon, and clearly, I might be myself. However I have never put an excessive amount of thought into it. Simply deal with being right here and enjoying in addition to I presumably can.”
Fifty-five video games into his sophomore marketing campaign, Bedard hasn’t fairly reached the heights that have been anticipated of him as he entered the NHL because the 2023 No. 1 choose. However he entered the 4 Nations break trying rejuvenated after a training coach in Chicago.
Bedard has 15 targets and 49 factors on the season, however 11 and 30 of these have come within the 29 video games since Anders Sorensen took over because the Blackhawks’ bench boss.
Chicago emerges from the break with a 17-31-7 report and 41 factors, which has it sitting second final within the Western Convention and the NHL.
So, because the Blackhawks proceed to seek for a manner out of their rebuild, Bedard’s greatest probability at returning to the game’s largest stage could rely upon whether or not he can earn a spot on Workforce Canada in 2026.
