Connor Bedard’s homecoming was supposed to be a great game, with the Blackhawks and Vancouver’s favorite son putting up a valiant fight against the home team.

Yet, Luke Richardson and the Blackhawks were unable to overcome the Canucks who outscored and outplayed Bedard, and his teammates.

The hype was shot out of the shy, as they were overshadowed on the ice, and you could see it as Bedard’s inability to generate offense was obvious.

Bedard struggles in Vancouver homecoming, Blackhawks drop 4th in 5 games |  NHL.com

Luke Richardson’s post-game interview would be a scathing review of his team’s effort on the ice last night.

«Our quality scoring chances were up,» coach Luke Richardson said. «Just can’t find the back of the net. Lack of drawing penalties, too. We can’t seem to get enough chances there, which would probably help a little bit in production.»

«That’s just a little bit of salt in the wound I think coming home for his first game here,» Richardson said. «But I saw the guys patting him on the back. It happens. He’s trying to do the right thing and get it in deep and he just missed the puck. That just kind of compounds everything but we’ll talk to him and support him.»

Blackhawks to hire Luke Richardson as new head coach - The Rink

The Blackhawks may unintentionally be tanking for a top spot in the NHL draft with how they are currently playing.

Despite being advertised as a better team on paper, if it’s not there in practice what can you say? Can you blame Richardson?

The Hawks are in dire straits, as they’ve only scored 6 goals in the last 6 games, none of which have come from wunderkind Bedard.

The homecoming went from a momentous occasion to being marked by another season loss, with a 6-11-1 record this season.

Kyle Davidson and Luke Richardson need to collaborate on the lineup in the future because it seems as if there’s no information sharing between the two.

Especially with how Richardson’s been coaching, but that little sliver of truth remains that it seems that players aren’t performing up to expectations.

It should be a red flag that only a player like Ilya Mikheyev who was on a revenge tour last night was the only goal-scorer.

Is Bedard the issue?

Why would Connor Bedard only take one shot on goal last night as well? Did someone tell him to quit shooting? Is Jim Montgomery advising the Blackhawks offense now? We know how the quality versus quantity shooting style has worked for the Bruins this season.

Either way, last night was a major disappointment for the Hawks and Bedard. Hopefully, they can rebound on Tuesday as we go duck hunting yet again.