Connor Bedard played 19:32 TOI last night against the Florida Panthers and was unable to find his game. He’d only lend 2 blocks for the night and would come out with no shots on goal.

That could be considered uncharacteristic of the sophomore center if we were talking about him last season.

CHICAGO — Connor Bedard is trying to keep his confidence up, but the Chicago Blackhawks forward is frustrated by his lack of scoring so far this season. «It’s been a tough stretch, and you just feel like you don’t have it or whatever, and you lose a bit of confidence and it just kind of goes on,» Bedard said Friday.

However, this year it seems to be the status quo for Bedard who seems to lack confidence in his play.

Could this lack of confidence be due to just Bedard being in a slump or is there other variables involved?

Some fans think that Luke Richardson’s coaching has hampered Bedard’s abilities this season.

He’s had too many different linemates and hasn’t been paired with consistent linemates to build chemistry with.

It’s sufficient to say, 2 points in 5 games is very uncharacteristic for Bedard who could’ve been a point-per-game player in 2023 if hadn’t suffered a broken jaw.

This year seems like he’s been destined to slump as he’s failed to produce up to expectations in 2024.

So what can Bedard do better to get out of his scoring funk?

«I mean, I could name 100 things. But I don’t know, man. It’s been frustrating, for sure,» he said. «I just don’t feel like I’m really doing anything. So just keep chipping away at it, I guess, and hopefully find my game again.»

The lack of confidence belies a larger, structural issue no one seems to discuss.