Listen, I don’t want to make you jealous or anything, but as I type this edition of the newsletter I’m battling a food-induced coma set forth by a masterfully done round of smash burgers and steaks on a fine Sunday afternoon in the valley.

As enjoyable as it was, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing from the sunny 70 degree forecast and smells of the grill. Baseball. Baseball was missing. Good news! Cactus League action starts in four days with the Cubs hosting the White Sox at Sloan Park in Mesa on Friday afternoon.

Until then, it’s backfield batting practice and bullpen clips to quench our thirst. But before we get into some more baseball, let’s talk about Connor Bedard, who shined this weekend.

Chicago Blackhawks: The Connor Bedard effect was on full display this weekend

“We go as he goes a lot of nights,” Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno said of Connor Bedard’s performance on Saturday. “Off the rush, he’s so dangerous. It’s nice to have a guy like that, that’s thinking that way. A lot of times, we’re chipping it in with a lunch pail attitude, and he’s a guy that can make those plays and catch teams off-guard. Those are the plays that you miss and are excited to see start going in for him.”

The Blackhawks had lost eight games in a row before playing the Ottawa Senators at the United Center on Saturday afternoon. Their most recent win was on January 19 against the New York Islanders in overtime.

Connor Bedard returned to the lineup on Thursday evening against the Penguins, and went through the “shaking off of the rust” motions for one period before he assisted on a Philipp Kurashev goal and made his presence felt across the box score.

By Saturday, the rust was gone. Bedard was a force all afternoon, assisting on a goal (a beautiful no-look pass to Kurashev that led to a Nick Foligno goal), scoring a goal, and nearly notching a game-winning goal that was wiped away by an offside penalty upon review.

The Blackhawks won, even with Bedard’s third period goal wiped away. It took two games for Chicago to get back into the win column with Bedard back in the lineup, something they did just three times in the 41 days he was sidelined with a broken jaw. That, my friends, is the ‘Connor Bedard Effect'.’

Without Bedard playing, the Blackhawks made it very easy to lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel in this rebuilding effort at 1901 W. Madison St. Winning three games and being one of the worst scoring offenses in hockey for six weeks can make even the sanest of observers forget how significant one 18-year-old kid is to the future of a storied NHL franchise.

Let this be a reminder: that 18-year-old kid means a lot. But he’s back, and we’ve got a reason to watch and cheer down the stretch.

More Chicago Blackhawks at Bleacher Nation

• After trying everything they could to break Lukas Reichel out of his funk, the Blackhawks decided to send him to Rockford for a reset on Sunday morning.

Chicago Cubs: Christopher Morel will focus mainly on third base this spring

The Chicago Cubs will deploy Christopher Morel at third base this spring, according to Craig Counsell.

“Christopher’s done so much with the bat that it’s our job to figure out the best way to deploy him,” Counsell said Saturday. “My idea at the start of camp is to kind of focus mainly at third base. Let’s see where we’re at. Let’s evaluate that as we go. But let’s give him a chance at third base. Let’s give him some consistency at third base and see where we’re at, roster-wise, at some point in camp and then go forward from there.”

Needing to find a spot for a guy with an electric bat is a good problem to have in February. Morel’s most natural position is second base, but Nico Hoerner owns that spot in Chicago. Dansby Swanson is a lock for shortstop, and the Cubs appear primed to have Michael Busch start the brunt of the games at first base.

So, the hot corner it is for Morel, who played just four games there last season. In 2023, Morel started four games at third base, split time up the middle when he was spelling Hoerner and Swanson, and played some outfield and DH.

But as Counsell said, you would ideally like to find an everyday home for a player who hit 26 home runs in 107 games last season.

“I’m really excited about the offensive potential and know that, defensively, this is still a young player,” Counsell said. “It’s work that we’re going to have to put in and see where that work gets us.”

More Chicago Cubs at Bleacher Nation

• Brett has more on Christopher Morel starting the spring at third base.

• Could one of Rod Manfred’s final acts as commissioner be getting the MLB All-Star Game to Wrigley Field?

More Chicago Sports at Bleacher Nation

CHICAGO BEARS

• We’ve all discussed what a Justin Fields trade to the Steelers could look like, but what if the Steelers aren’t interested? One report this weekend points to that being true. Luis has some thoughts on the situation.

CHICAGO BULLS

• Did you catch the NBA All-Star weekend? I didn’t catch one second. I honestly forgot it was even on until I saw Eli’s story about Victor Wembanyama dropping an F-Bomb live on the broadcast.

• The Bulls reportedly discussed a trade for Andre Drummond with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the deadline.

What’s on deck?

The Blackhawks are in action tonight in Carolina taking on the Hurricanes. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM CT and you can catch the action on NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN+.

Featured Photo: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports