Blackhawks at IIHF Worlds Roundup: Connor Bedard, Lukas Reichel Pile Up Points

Six Chicago Blackhawks players made the trek overseas to play in the 2024 IIHF World Championship, which concluded Sunday with Czechia and Hawks goalie Petr Mrazek winning gold. Forward Philipp Kurashev and Switzerland took home silver while the four other Blackhawks missed out on medals. Here's how each player fared at the tournament.

Connor Bedard

Stats: 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists) in 10 games (12:47 average TOI)

Connor Bedard enjoyed a strong start to the 2024 IIHF Worlds with multipoint efforts against Great Britain and Denmark . However, some untimely penalties (10 PIM total) led to decreased ice time at the end of the preliminary round and into the playoff and medal rounds.

Bedard dished a timely assist to help Canada defeat Slovakia in the quarterfinals before logging another big helper and scoring a shootout goal to give his country a chance to take down Switzerland in the semifinals. But it wasn't meant to be as the Canadians lost to the Swiss and fell to Sweden in the bronze medal game.

Overall, the tournament should be viewed as a positive experience for Bedard. Despite the team's shortcomings, the Blackhawks' phenom forward ranked fourth among Canadian skaters in point production — an impressive feat for an 18-year-old.

Related: Connor Bedard Opens IIHF Worlds with 2 Goals in Canada's Win vs. Great Britain

Seth Jones

Stats: 5 points (0 goals, 5 assists) in 8 games (21:17 average TOI)

Seth Jones played big minutes on Team USA's blue line paired with former Columbus Blue Jackets teammate Zach Werenski. Serving as an alternate captain for the Americans, Jones dished five helpers , recorded 19 shots on goal, and logged a +6 rating. All of Jones' point production came in the preliminary round as Team USA unceremoniously bowed out in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 loss to Czechia.

While the Hawks' veteran and Team USA certainly hoped for better results, Jones' leadership was on full display as he drew praise from New Jersey Devils rookie defenseman Luke Hughes. Such attributes will be crucial for a young Blackhawks team looking to take the next step in its rebuild.

Related: Blackhawks at IIHF Worlds: Seth Jones Adds to Assist Total, USA Blanks France

Philipp Kurashev

Stats: 2 points (0 goals, 2 assists) in 8 games (12:33 average TOI)

Philipp Kurashev had a quiet tournament points-wise, but he made a few key plays as Switzerland marched toward a silver medal. The 24-year-old's highlight-reel moment came in the preliminary round when he scored the game-winning shootout goal to push the Swiss past Czechia.

Coming off the best season of his NHL career on a talent-thin Blackhawks team, Kurashev slotted into a less prominent role on the international stage. It serves as a reminder that he's best suited as a middle-six contributor on a playoff-caliber NHL squad.

Related: Blackhawks at IIHF Worlds: Philipp Kurashev Scores Decisive Shootout Goal for Switzerland vs. Czechia

Petr Mrazek

Stats: 1-0 record, .906 save percentage, 1.50 goals-against average

Petr Mrazek served as Czechia's No. 2 goalie as Anaheim Ducks' netminder Lukas Dostal logged most of the work between the pipes for the host country. The Blackhawks' backstop surrendered three goals to Norway before shutting out Austria in the preliminary round. While Mrazek watched most of the tournament from the bench, winning gold on his home soil has to feel good.

Most importantly, the 32-year-old is healthy and playing well after multiple injury-riddled seasons. With a two-year contract extension in place, Mrazek figures to serve as the Blackhawks' primary goalie for the near future.

Related: Blackhawks at IIHF Worlds: Petr Mrazek, Czechia Shut Out Austria

Lukas Reichel

Stats: 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 6 games (15:13 average TOI)

Lukas Reichel had a delayed start to the 2024 IIHF Worlds but made a big impact after settling in with Germany. The 22-year-old notched multipoint efforts against Latvia , Kazakhstan , and France and made a heady play to help seal the Germans' win over Poland in the preliminary round.

Coming off an underwhelming season with the Blackhawks, Reichel's showing on the international stage was encouraging. Now locked up for two more seasons in Chicago, he must play with the confidence and speed he displayed against Poland to reach his full potential.

Related: Blackhawks at IIHF Worlds: Lukas Reichel Showcases Speed, Initiates Germany's Dagger Goal vs. Poland

Alex Vlasic

Stats: 2 points (0 goals, 2 assists) in 8 games (14:01 average TOI)

After emerging as a top-end defenseman for the Blackhawks this past season, Alex Vlasic slotted down in the lineup for Team USA at the 2024 IIHF Worlds. The 6-foot-6 blueliner didn't light up the scoresheet but made a few solid plays to help the Americans turn defense into offense .

Despite a mostly quiet tournament, there's no cause for concern regarding Vlasic. The 22-year-old made massive strides in his third taste of NHL action and earned a six-year contract extension for his efforts. Vlasic will be a mainstay on the Blackhawks' blue line for years to come.

Related: Blackhawks at IIHF Worlds: Alex Vlasic Notches Assist, USA Tops Poland

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