Bedard: 'Couldn't really care less' about criticism
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard is shrugging off the criticism he's receiving about his sophomore slump.
"I'm not watching broadcasts or anything. I'm playing hockey. ... I couldn't really care less, to be honest, what people on the outside think of me or us," Bedard said, according to TSN. "I'm not going to be butthurt if someone says I make a bad play or whatever. I don't care. It's their job to say what they feel and I'm not going to take anything personally."
Bedard was called out Wednesday by former NHLer Paul Bissonnette on "NHL on TNT" for playing what he considered "pond hockey" against the Edmonton Oilers.
"There's so many details to his game that he's lacking right now," Bissonnette said. "He might put up 30 to 35 goals a season and get his 50 to 55 assists by playing power play and getting all these minutes. But they're going to continue to lose hockey games."
Mark Messier also criticized the forward Saturday on ESPN, saying that the lack of consequences for Bedard's poor performance would "destroy" morale.
"Puck management is a big part of the game, but we'll keep those conversations between me and (Bedard)," interim head coach Anders Sorensen said, per WGN Radio's Charlie Roumeliotis. "He knows if he makes a mistake. We talk during the game. He's a smart player, but he's aware."
Bedard tallied just one assist in the Blackhawks' last two games. The sophomore has 15 goals and 46 points in 53 games this season after finishing his rookie campaign with 22 goals and 61 points and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy.
The Blackhawks sit at the bottom of the Central Division with a record of 16-31-6 and fired head coach Luke Richardson on Dec. 6.