What a fun day of college hoops.

Sure, the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight might mean more, but nothing compares to the sheer volume of basketball the first two days of the tournament brings.

And nothing beats having a productive morning followed by twelve straight hours of ball.

Xfinity's new "multiview" for March Madness was a game-changer yesterday, too. It's the second-greatest thing on Xfinity, trailing only channel 4074.​

As Connor Bedard nears the finish line of his second year with the Chicago Blackhawks, an important decision looms ahead for the teenage phenom: whether or not to sign an extension this summer.

Since drafting Bedard in 2023, Chicago is just 43-93-15. That's going to happen when you're deep in the throes of an excruciating rebuild. However, as time has passed in Bedard's second year, frustration has become more apparent, both with himself and the state of the team.

So, should Chicago be concerned about their ability to retain the star long-term?

The short answer? Not yet.

In a sitdown with former NHLer Tony Granato on CHSN, Bedard said he doesn't want to ever feel comfortable with losing but that at this stage in his career, he finds value in learning to understand the process and grueling nature of the league.

On his importance to the Blackhawks' rebuild efforts, Bedard added, "It's a cool feeling when I look back and know that I am a part of that and get to grow with these guys. When we're good, when we're winning, we're going to be looking back laughing at this little bit."

That should be music to Blackhawks fans' ears. Those aren't the words of somebody who's hellbent on getting out of dodge.

However, Chicago still needs to expedite the turnaround—or the "tough part" of the rebuild—to at least prove to Bedard that help is on the way. Whether that means signing a high-class free agent (or two) or using some of its draft capital surplus to trade for an elite line-mate, it needs to happen this offseason.

Should Bedard not sign an extension before next season, then maybe some alarm bells start to ring. Even then, as a restricted free agent after 2026, his options are relatively limited.

The good news? A glimpse into the future could be on its way to Chicago next month...

GO DEEPER: ​Mario Tirabassi's Rebuild Report on the likelihood of some of the Blackhawks' top collegiate prospects debuting before the end of the season.​