Connor Bedard says he has "100% belief" in Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill, and he said it on the heels of a rough stretch in Chicago.
The timing matters. Blashill's job was a topic after a 9-2 loss in Carolina, and our site reported Sunday that he would stay on as coach, according to an anonymous source within the organization.
Charlie Roumeliotis relayed Bedard's comments, and the Blackhawks captain-in-waiting did not sound like a player tuning out his coach.
Bedard told reporters Blashill "gives us a great game plan and super easy to talk to, you really know his message." He added that the coaching staff as a whole is doing a great job.
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The post is cut off after Bedard said there is "no doubting what they're preaching, what they're doing," so the rest of his answer isn't available. What is on the record is a clear vote of confidence from the face of the franchise.
That vote came with a win behind it. Chicago beat the Sabres 3-2 in overtime Thursday night, and Bedard set up a power-play goal in 22:26 of ice time.
Frank Nazar scored twice and Ryan Donato got the game-winner. It was a rare good night for a team that is 5-13-1.
Does Bedard's support change the Blackhawks' outlook on Jeff Blashill?
The record is ugly. Chicago sits 31st in the NHL, with a goal differential of -36, and the Blackhawks are 0-8-1 on the road.
A player's public backing doesn't fix any of that. But it does matter that the best player on the roster is publicly echoing the message from the bench, because a split locker room is usually what ends a coach's tenure.
We think Blashill has more runway than the standings suggest. Kyle Davidson has the Blackhawks in a rebuild with young players, and the people in that room, Bedard included, are not sending signals that they have stopped listening.
The home-ice results are the best argument for him. Chicago is 5-5-0 at home, and the road is where the season has gone sideways.
Meanwhile, the trade chatter around the organization hasn't gone quiet. We also reported Wednesday that Oliver Moore on the trade market had the Flyers checking in, according to David Pagnotta.
The Blackhawks host the Winnipeg Jets Saturday, a chance to string two wins together for the first time in a while.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
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