Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard living up to the hype? Here’s how you voted

Connor Bedard is the best thing the Blackhawks have going.

If you’ve met the Hawks, you know that isn’t saying much.

Bedard, a second-year NHLer — and still only 19 — is having his share of difficulty on the ice and enduring at least an equal share of criticism off it. With that in mind, we asked in this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, if Bedard is living up to the massive hype.

“No,” @RonaldVoigt4 commented, “but it’s not his fault Patrick Kane isn’t skating on his wing.”

Also, we asked which young player will blow up into a true superstar first, Bedard or Bears quarterback Caleb Williams? You have to admit, it’s fun — and possibly a bit scary — to think about.

Last, we wanted to know which team out of the Bears, the Sky and the White Sox you predict will have the highest winning percentage in 2025. Hopefully, they won’t all win at a sub-.400 clip, as @JBIRD1268 forecasted.

“The Bears could have won 10 games [in 2024],” @JeffreyCanalia wrote. “With the right additions, this year should be a significant leap forward.”

On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: Is the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard — still only 19 — living up to the massive hype that preceded his NHL arrival?

Upshot: Even a “not quite” Bedard has All-Star potential every time he laces up the skates. Did we mention he’s 19? It’s all still in front of him.

Poll No. 2: Who will reach his full potential first, the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard or the Bears’ Caleb Williams?

Upshot: Best case, we’ll have two face-of-the-league types in town at the same time. If you’re a real Chicago sports fan, you just rolled your eyes so far back in your head, you might never see straight again.

Poll No. 3: Which team will have the highest winning percentage in the 2025 season?

Upshot: It’s called “damning with faint praise,” people. The Bears will take the compliment all the same.