Bedard, who's been lighting up the league with his impressive tally of goals and points, leading all rookies, has also quickly become a fan favorite for his engaging personality off the ice.
Despite the NHL's initial stance against the use of pride tape, the policy was overturned as the season got underway, a change spurred by Arizona Coyotes Travis Dermott's early season use of the tape. Since then, a wave of players across the league, including Bedard now, have embraced the use of pride tape to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
It seems the pride tape might have brought some extra luck, as the Blackhawks clinched a 3-1 victory over the Flames. While the team might be out of playoff contention and sitting in 31st place, their performance of late, winning six of their last ten games, offers a glimmer of hope for what's ahead.