A couple of days back, the NHL released its top 10 under-25 forwards, and they listed Connor Bedard at No. 6. That's epic, considering Bedard's inconsistent play at times last season, when he went 12 straight games without finding the net.
Further, Bedard had a 19-game stretch when he scored just two goals, even if his playmaking ability shined with 10 assists. All of that said, following that 12-game stretch without a goal, Bedard found twine 20 times in the final 61 games, recording 52 total points and a 14.3 shooting percentage in the process.
So, maybe some will still find it laughable that Bedard made the list, but he grew more consistent in the second half of the season and showed us that, yes, he can be the leader everyone in the Windy City expects him to be.