Blackhawks Assistant Coach Kevin Dean Calls Out Head Coach Anders Sorensen In Latest Statement
Photo credit: Bleacher Nation
GM Kyle Davidson may need to get his ducks in a row, as the Blackhawks have dissension in the ranks, as Kevin Dean took a shot at Anders Sorensen today.
If Sorensen is fired, Dean will take over as head coach for the time being.
The Chicago Blackhawks have implemented a new philosophy that should make sure Connor Bedard gets the puck more often.
Included in those gameplans, we see the defenseman join in the rush to create space Bedard, and his fellow forwards to open up the ice for more offense in their opponents end.
While the team is still learning the new system, which is more run-and-gun, than Luke Richardson's 200-foot game, there's some flaws.
The interim coach envisions his defensemen adopting an aggressive forecheck while maintaining a strong presence on the blue line
No system is perfect, and no interim coach is either, as it seems Blackhawks assistant coach Kevin Dean is unhappy with the defense.
He called out Anders Sorensen today, as the blueline isn't performing up to expectations.
«I still believe [defensemen] should play [defense] first, and I don't think I'll change from that,» Dean stated during an interview with Chicago Sun-Times. «But in today's NHL, you have to get your 'D' activated and contributing in the offense, or you're going to have a hard time.
Dean whose philosophy of hockey still has a more conservative approach than the Blackhawks interim coach, Anders Sorensen is taking.
The assistant coach feels that the Blackhawks defense should play defense before pinching the play on the opposite end.
«[Sorensen is] more: 'Let's go outscore the opposition. Let's defend hard when we don't have it, but let's not try to win 1-0. Let's go out and make some plays and score some goals.' «
Which isn't exactly a critique we haven't heard before, as the Blackhawks philosophy has changed drastically, once the coaching change took place on December 8th, 2024.
The team itself has a -35 goal differential in the league, and could afford to re-examine how they deploy their defense on both ends of the ice.
Neutral Zone Trap v Outscoring Everybody
Perhaps defensemen like Seth Jones or Alex Vlasic could afford to clog the zone instead of joining the rush.
Dean did recognize Sorensen's positive philosophy, but it doesn't help much when you have defensive collapses often in key situations.
''The mindset is more positive: 'We're going to make a play here,' instead of, 'Let's not get caught in a jam,' '' Dean said.
Considering they have a problem outscoring teams now, Sorensen needs to re-examine this in my opinion.
The Blackhawks are 13-25-2 and take on a highly-skilled Colorado Avalanche with dynamite goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood in tow.
Sorensen and Dean will need to work on their vision of the Blackhawks' defense for the future of the franchise. While Sorensen isn't wrong, they need more offensive firepower, they need a balanced game on both ends of the ice.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 7 | 221 ANSWERS Blackhawks Assistant Coach Kevin Dean Calls Out Head Coach Anders Sorensen In Latest Statement Do you think Assistant Coach Kevin Dean of the Chicago Blackhawks was right to call out Interim Coach Anders Sorensen? | ||
| Yes | 120 | 54.3 % |
| No | 101 | 45.7 % |
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