Connor Bedard playing starring role in surprising start for the Chicago Blackhawks

CHICAGO (AP) — Connor Bedard called his first goal “extremely lucky.” He highlighted Ryan Greene's cross-ice pass on his second goal. He talked about committing a turnover right before his third goal for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 20-year-old center tried his best to share the spotlight, but his teammates were having none of it.

“He's really, obviously, coming into his own right now,” Chicago forward Ryan Donato said.

It sure looks that way.

Bedard has seven goals and six assists in his last six games after he recorded his second career hat trick in Chicago's 5-2 victory over Calgary on Tuesday night. He got his first one when he had three goals and an assist in a 7-3 win over Ottawa on Oct. 28.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft has 13 goals and 16 assists in 19 games this season. He scored his 13th goal last season in his 45th game on Jan. 16.

“What I like the most about it is the consistency in his approach,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “And you know points do come and go; for a guy like him, they come more than they go. But his consistency in his approach has been really good.”

Led by Bedard, it looks as if Chicago is on the way out of a painful rebuilding process. The Blackhawks are 5-0-1 in their last six games and 10-5-4 overall. They didn't get their 10th win last season until Dec. 15.

“We’re just really determined, and have a lot of fun together,” Bedard said. “We love each other and we want to play for each other.”

Bedard was just 18 when he made his highly anticipated NHL debut in 2023. He was heralded as the new face of the Blackhawks, and he won the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year. He had 23 goals and 44 assists while appearing in all 82 games in his second season.

By any objective measure, it was an impressive transition for a teenager adjusting to life in the NHL. But the Blackhawks kept losing while Bedard was chased by the expectations that were placed on him long before he entered the league.

That seems like a long time ago at the moment.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of guys in the league that could say they've had the same experiences, you know, as he has,” Donato said. “Obviously he’s got a lot more pressure than a lot of people in this league. And you wouldn’t know it if you were on the team with him. He’s fun to be around the locker room and one of the hardest workers.”

With captain Nick Foligno and fellow forward Jason Dickinson sidelined by injuries, Bedard served as an alternate captain for the matchup with Calgary.

“The refs were way nicer to me today — way nicer,” a smiling Bedard said. “I didn’t get kicked out of a draw for the first time in my career.”

Showing off his improved speed, Bedard got his first goal against the Flames with 4:49 left in the second period.

Sam Rinzel chipped the puck out of Chicago’s defensive zone, and Bedard took off. After Dustin Wolf whiffed on a clearing attempt, Bedard touched a backhand between the goaltender’s legs while fighting off Calgary defenseman Yan Kuznetsov.

The game was tied at 2 when Bedard pulled the puck inside of Calgary defenseman Kevin Bahl’s stick before ripping a shot over Wolf's right shoulder at 4:57 of the third period.

“Obviously any goals, made by other people,” Bedard said. “So they did a lot of work on that one. And the first one as well, (Rinzel) makes a great play.”

Bedard added an empty-netter in the final minute from the other end of the ice, delighting the United Center crowd of 17,518. He became the fourth player in franchise history with multiple hat tricks before age 21, joining Alex DeBrincat (three), Jeremy Roenick (three) and Bobby Hull (two).

“I think what he’s doing right now is huge and it’s obviously huge for our team, but it’s something that he can keep doing,” forward Oliver Moore said. “I think the way he’s playing both sides of the puck, it's leadership.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates his hat trick against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard celebrates a win against the Calgary Flames in an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates his hat trick against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates his hat trick against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates his goal against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Detroit has reached an agreement to add running back Isiah Pacheco as a replacement for David Montgomery after the Lions traded Jahmyr Gibbs' backup before free agency started, a person with knowledge of the deal said Tuesday.

Pacheco spent his first four seasons in the running back rotation with the Kansas City Chiefs, who agreed to a $45 million, three-year deal with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in the opening hours of free agency.

The Green Bay Packers are doing some shuffling at cornerback by adding Benjamin St-Juste while informing Nate Hobbs of a plan to release him a year after signing him to the $48 million, four-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the decisions. St-Juste is getting a $10.5 million, two-year deal.

All the people are speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because transactions can’t be become official until Wednesday, the first day of the NFL’s new league year.

Pacheco rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns over four seasons with the Chiefs, helping them win two Super Bowls.

Montgomery, who no longer wanted to play behind Gibbs, was sent to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs along with fourth- and seventh-round draft picks.

The Chiefs also agreed to a $24.5 million, three-year deal with former Baltimore safety Alohi Gilman and an $11 million, two-year contract with receiver Tyquan Thornton, who emerged as perhaps their best deep threat during a 6-11 season that ended a 10-year playoff streak.

Gilman fills a big need in Kansas City’s depleted defensive backfield. Safety Bryan Cook is headed to Cincinnati, the Chiefs traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams and fellow cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams are signing elsewhere.

St-Juste was on the field for about 35% of the Chargers’ defensive plays last season and also was a key special teams contributor during his lone year in Los Angeles. The 28-year-old has two interceptions over five seasons, the first four in Washington for the 2021 third-round draft pick.

Hobbs injured his knee in training camp last year and was benched midseason after leaving the Las Vegas Raiders to join the Packers. The 26-year-old made five starts in 11 appearances and had a career-low two pass breakups.

The Packers will designate Hobbs a post-June 1 cut, which will save about $8 million on the salary cap. Hobbs missed the wild-card loss to Chicago and said after the season he tore a medial collateral ligament Dec. 27 against Baltimore.

Pittsburgh agreed with running back Rico Dowdle on a $12.25 million, two-year deal in what will be a reunion with new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy. They were together in Dallas, where Dowdle became the first undrafted Cowboys running back to rush for 1,000 yards in McCarthy's final season in 2024.

Dowdle signed with Carolina last year and followed a 206-yard outing against Miami with 183 yards rushing and a 36-yard touchdown catch against the Cowboys. Dowdle finished the season with 1,076 yards.

The Steelers are waiting on what would be a much more significant reunion for McCarthy. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn't said whether he plans to return for a 22nd season, and second in Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old was with McCarthy for 12-plus seasons in Green Bay, and they won a Super Bowl during the 2010 season.

The Buffalo Bills and tight end Dawson Knox agreed to a three-year contract extension that will save money under the salary cap. The seventh-year player was entering the final year of his deal and scheduled to count $17 million against Buffalo’s cap.

The New York Giants have an agreement with cornerback Greg Newsome after losing starter Cor'Dale Flott to Tennessee on the first day of negotiations for free agents. New York also has a deal with safety Ar’Darius Washington, the third player to follow new coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore after tight end Isaiah Likely and All-Pro punter Jordan Stout.

Minnesota is keeping two-time All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola. The 38-year-old is set for a seventh season with the Vikings. DePaola is the only long snapper to make three straight Pro Bowls (2022-24).

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Benjamin St-Juste warms up before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Nov. 16, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

FILE - Green Bay Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs returns a kick off during an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke, File)