Connor Bedard knows he needs to play a role in the Blackhawks' effort to establish a more tenacious identity during the second half of the season.

And in the Hawks’ encouraging 3-1 win Wednesday night against the Avalanche, he did that.

“Being hard to play against is different for everyone,” Bedard said. “There’s guys that are going to throw big hits. It’s not really me. I just need to make the smart plays, try to win my battles and do what I can to be in the offensive zone. Because being hard to play against isn’t just physicality — it’s when you don’t have the puck.”

The Hawks’ teenage star almost singlehandedly turned the momentum late in the first period after the Avalanche controlled the first 15 minutes, eventually assisting on Ilya Mikheyev’s tying goal. Then he overcame a second-period goal of his own being negated upon review (because of a kicking motion) and ripped in a no-doubt snipe to give the Hawks insurance in the third period.

Bedard’s two-point night extended his point streak to eight consecutive games. Since the day it started — Dec. 21 — he’s tied for seventh in the NHL in scoring with 11 points. His heating-up rate has been more like an electric stove than an airplane engine, so it hasn’t garnered a ton of attention, but he’s hot enough now that it should begin to.

His goal and celebration were vintage Bedard, but the way he created Mikheyev’s goal was less characteristic and therefore more meaningful.

Instead of probably turning the puck over by trying to skate it through the Avalanche’s blue-line trap, he safely dumped it in, then got on the forecheck with an active stick and forced an Avalanche turnover. Bedard did try to do too much on a few zone-entry attempts later in the game, but he’s learning gradually.

“We’ve talked about . . . our identity as a group to understand when it’s time to forecheck,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. “He set an example with that.”

Veterans step up

Goalie Petr Mrazek and defenseman Seth Jones, two Hawks veteran cornerstones, had both struggled in recent weeks since returning from injuries. Finally, both regained form Wednesday.

Mrazek saved 36 of 37 shots, including some desperation stops moving laterally in the crease. Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon looked thoroughly frustrated by his line’s plethora of chances and lack of goals.

“I just was battling since I returned,” Mrazek said. “I knew there was going to be a game that I could prove I can still play the game.”

Jones was much more reliable, too. Sorensen praised him for closing on opponents and killing plays more decisively in the defensive zone, and he made a great breakout pass that led to Bedard’s goal.

Reichel limping along

Not only has Sorensen's arrival not benefited Philipp Kurashev as initially hoped, but it also hasn’t done much good for Lukas Reichel. That’s in spite of the fact Sorensen worked with Reichel in Rockford for much longer — and much more recently — than he did with Kurashev.

Reichel had been a healthy scratch the last two games before returning to the lineup, and he hasn’t gotten an opportunity to play higher than the fourth line in months now.

“He’s got abilities — we know that — but let’s [see him] get on the inside and create stuff,” Sorensen said.

Reichel didn’t help his case in the first period, when he turned the puck over in the offensive zone and lost a 150-foot race that led to the Avalanche’s lone goal.

The draft is three weeks away now. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have pieced together an off-season that is earning widespread praise across the league. The question is whether they can stick the landing with their 1st round pick in the draft. Current projections have the top three picks likely being a mix of Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter. After that, it gets tricky. People in Chicago want to know where running back Ashton Jeanty will end once the dust settles.

Widespread belief has been that the Las Vegas Raiders are the heavy favorites to take him at 6th overall, with New Orleans at #9 also being a possibility. It makes sense. Las Vegas’ best option right now is a 33-year-old Raheem Mostert. New Orleans knows Alvin Kamara turns 30 in July. Both teams need to think about the future at that position. Both have head coaches who like to run the ball. One thing is clear. A source told SM that those around the league believe one thing is certain.

“He likely won’t get passed Chicago if he falls that far.”

Ashton Jeanty is a strong probability for the Bears.

Whispers from Halas Hall indicate they love the Boise State star. It isn’t hard to see why. He nearly broke Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record in 2024, nearly winning the Heisman in the process. The guy carried his team to the college football playoffs. He’s built like a brick house with power, speed, contact balance, and vision. There aren’t any truly glaring weaknesses in his game. He’s earned comparisons to the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshawn Lynch. The Bears haven’t had a back of that caliber since Matt Forte.

Try to imagine what this offense could look like with Ashton Jeanty, Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Cole Kmet all as options for quarterback Caleb Williams. Throw all of it into Johnson’s offense, and you can understand why some people around the league aren’t wild about the idea. They are quietly hoping Jeanty goes somewhere else. One thing is certain. If he gets past the Raiders, the noise will get loud in a hurry. It would mark the first time in 20 years the Bears have taken a running back in the 1st round.