Blackhawks urged to fulfill Connor Bedard trade need this offseason

Blackhawks urged to fulfill Connor Bedard trade need this offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Blackhawks have one great thing going for them: Connor Bedard.

They could use some help, though, and that's what this offseason will be about.

The main need? It might be to find a great winger to pair with Bedard.

Daily Faceoff's Anthony Trudeau wrote in a new article on Thursday that if he was Chicago, he'd prioritize that wing spot over defense.

"After giving up the most expected 5-on-5 goals of any team this season by some distance, you might expect the Hawks to try to beef up their defense," Trudeau writes. "They would likely prefer a player or two out of their current D corps, the oldest of whom is 24-year-old Alex Vlasic, to take another step up and lead the group. Instead, expect the Blackhawks to take a serious swing for the sort of top-line winger Connor Bedard has been missing during his young career."

MORE:Maple Leafs' president brought AI trade pitches to deadline meetings

Chicago would likely have the talent it takes to get any sort of deal done, if they can find a taker.

"They have more good prospects than will ever fit in their lineup on hand to make a deal work, and nabbing a 70-point player to stick next to Bedard could have an explosive effect on Chicago’s offensive ceiling after the wunderkid’s year-three breakout," Trudeau writes. "As a bonus, a new top-line wing would help justify Jeff Blashill’s preference for keeping 32-goal-scorer Tyler Bertuzzi separate from Bedard and in the middle six, where Bertuzzi has already developed significant chemistry with both Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell."