Chicago Blackhawks Become 1st Team Eliminated From 2024 Playoff Contention

Well, Connor Bedard, you wanted the NHL spotlight. Now you'll have to deal with the ultimate indignity: being the first to be eliminated.

The Chicago Blackhawks entered Saturday's NHL action actually facing elimination, and unfortunately for them, they fulfilled their end of the bargain with their 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. A point from either the St. Louis Blues or the Vegas Golden Knights would complete the elimination scenario, and while the Blues were shutout by the New York Rangers, the Golden Knights did win their game over the Detroit Red Wings, and that brought the Blackhawks' season to an early end.

How early was this end? The Blackhawks were eliminated on March 9, 2024, just several hours before Daylight Savings Time began. Nine days before my birthday (March 18). Eleven days before the start of spring (March 20).

Let me make something perfectly clear. All of my respect for the Blackhawks went out the window four years ago, when the world learned that a lot of people involved with that team had known about one of their coaching staff members sexually assaulting prospect player Kyle Beach in 2010, yet they did nothing about it because their main concern was getting that Stanley Cup that they would go on to win. I should have known how full of shit that team was when they refused to admit that they were in a rebuilding stage. That team had been going to shit ever since the Nashville Predators embarrassed them in the 2017 playoffs. So yeah, they didn't start tanking until around last year, and we know what that got them: the #1 overall pick.

Speaking of, let's talk about what that pick turned into.

I have never really given my true thoughts about Connor Bedard here, but let's have it out. Is the kid good? Yes. As it stands, Bedard's leading rookies in points (43) and goals (17), and he's definitely a shoo-in for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year). Would I consider drafting him on Fantasy Hockey next season? Yes. Like I said, the kid's good. But here's the problem. Bedard is getting his ass kissed way too much for my liking...for anyone's liking. If you watch ESPN or TNT or NHL Network, one would think the sun rises and sets around Bedard.

I swear, I have never seen a star rookie get gushed over as much as Bedard does. Sidney Crosby never got this much gushing during his rookie year; for him, that came a few seasons later, after he won something. Alex Ovechkin never got his ass kissed like this. Even Connor McDavid wasn't put on this pedestal in his rookie year. So what the hell is so special about Connor Bedard? It can't be marketing. After all, New York and Los Angeles are bigger markets, yet I don't recall Alexis Lafreniere (#1 pick in 2020 by NYR) getting this treatment. It can't be because Bedard's with an Original Six team--again, so is Lafreniere.

Bedard's definitely getting a big head because of this, but here's the thing: he's with the Blackhawks. He's going to have to get used to this "no playoffs" thing for a pretty long while. How long until Bedard starts making trade demands and wants to be with a contender? Honestly, I give it four seasons. As for the Blackhawks, well, they'll be rotting in hockey purgatory for at least the next four seasons. They are so screwed beyond recognition, and they absolutely know it. They chose to pretend that things were fine, which isn't the first time they've made a bad choice. Much like the last bad choice they made, the team's going to have to live with the consequences.