The Chicago Blackhawks have Connor Bedard back in the lineup. Good. They need him.
What they also need is an answer to a question that's been hanging over this rebuild for a while now. How much longer can they keep asking their best player to make up for everything the roster lacks?
Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million extension. That's a significant commitment from Chicago, but the money isn't particularly concerning.
It's the five years.
Kyle Davidson has spent plenty of time building for the future. Well, part of that future is already here, making $15 million a season.
Connor Bedard's contract puts Kyle Davidson under pressure
Look at Chicago's roster and there's certainly talent worth getting excited about.
Frank Nazar has the tools to become an important offensive player. Anton Frondell is another young piece with considerable upside. Artyom Levshunov gives the Blackhawks someone they hope will develop into a top-pairing defenseman.
Fine. But what about right now?
Bedard scored 30 goals last season and finished with 75 points. Those numbers would look even better if Chicago had another dependable scoring threat to take some attention away from him.
Instead, opponents can spend an awful lot of time worrying about No. 98.
That's not exactly a complicated defensive strategy.
The Blackhawks have spent enough time talking about potential
Davidson inherited a mess. That's worth remembering whenever someone questions how long this rebuild has taken.
Chicago needed prospects, draft capital and a completely different approach to constructing its roster.
He accomplished much of that.
The arrival of Bowen Byram and the return of Patrick Kane were encouraging moves, too. At least Chicago appeared interested in giving its younger players some experienced help.
But the Blackhawks are still searching for consistency.
One night, the young players offer a glimpse of what this team could become. The next, Chicago struggles to generate sustained offensive pressure, and everyone is back discussing how much development remains.
It's getting old.
Not because the prospects aren't talented. Because the organization needs some of those projections to start becoming actual NHL production.
Chicago needs to give Bedard something worth staying for
Nobody is suggesting Bedard will demand a trade tomorrow. There's no reason to manufacture that drama.
But his contract does establish a timeline.
Chicago has five years to turn a promising collection of young players into something that resembles a legitimate contender.
And those years won't all be spent watching prospects develop.
Davidson doesn't necessarily need another blockbuster acquisition. He needs the players already in Chicago to take meaningful steps forward.
Bedard has given the Blackhawks a player worth building around.
The $75 million question is whether Davidson can finish building before another chunk of Bedard's career disappears into a rebuild that never seems quite finished.
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