Chicago Blackhawks Unveil New Plan For Struggling Forward Connor Bedard
Photo credit: (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
The Chicago Blackhawks andAnders Sorensen have a new plan for center Connor Bedard, move the puck more often.
The Chicago Blackhawks have to dig themselves out of a hole, and Anders Sorensen is working his magic to do so. Part of his plan is to help Connor Bedard find a way out of his slump and change the game plan for his 2nd season in the NHL.
Someone who scored 61 points last season, should see a leap in production, and significant improvement correct? You'd think, but under former Coach Luke Richardson he'd been lost at sea it seems, without direction or a navigator.
Now, Sorensen will implement a new plan to help Bedard achieve his goals during his sophomore year in the NHL.
«He's a really good person,» Sorensen said. «That's a huge part of why he's so successful. But he's [also] a really smart hockey person, so just getting his thoughts on things is important. He watches a lot of hockey and I watch a lot of hockey, so we exchange ideas.
«It comes back to [the fact] that the players are the ones playing. Sometimes they see things that we don't see as coaches, and trying to get their feel for that is important.»
Sorensen has emphasized the importance of continuous motion for Bedard, both when it comes to teammates trying to get him the puck and him getting in position to receive the puck.
«It comes back to [the fact] that the players are the ones playing. Sometimes they see things that we don't see as coaches, and trying to get their feel for that is important.»
Sorensen has emphasized the importance of continuous motion for Bedard, both when it comes to teammates trying to get him the puck and him getting in position to receive the puck.
Sorensen has changed the game plan and wants Bedard to look for defensemen who will join in the rush, and look for them to move the puck to.
The goal is to utilize the defenseman to create space for players like Connor Bedard, Ilya Mikheyev, and Philipp Kurashev, the Blackhawks 1st line.
«Whenever you can add more guys and more options, it makes the game easier, so that's great for us,» Bedard said. «We want [the defensemen] shooting the puck, whether it's off the rush or off low-to-high [passes].»
Bedard's been on the scoreboard the last two games, tallying two assists on the Alex Vlasic power-play goal against the Jets, and an assist on Taylor Hall's goal against the Rangers. An uptick in production under Anders Sorensen has begun, and he could fetch a third point and a streak if he tallies an assist or goal against the Islanders on Thursday.
But what Bedard needs to work on is his shooting, as he's only scored five goals in 28 games, and needs to improve if his production is to improve this season. It's a necessity for the Hawks offense for Bedard to turn on the consistent scoring we saw last year.
For now, he'll continue to work on his game and improve under interim coach Anders Sorensen.
Bedard's been on the scoreboard the last two games, tallying two assists on the Alex Vlasic power-play goal against the Jets, and an assist on Taylor Hall's goal against the Rangers. An uptick in production under Anders Sorensen has begun, and he could fetch a third point and a streak if he tallies an assist or goal against the Islanders on Thursday.
But what Bedard needs to work on is his shooting, as he's only scored five goals in 28 games, and needs to improve if his production is to improve this season. It's a necessity for the Hawks offense for Bedard to turn on the consistent scoring we saw last year.
For now, he'll continue to work on his game and improve under interim coach Anders Sorensen.
«I feel all right,» Bedard said. «There's great games; there's bad games. You always want to be getting better, so that's all you can focus on.»
It sounds like he has won over the locker room. And Bedard has bought into his vision, a possible recipe for success.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 11 | 145 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks Unveil New Plan For Struggling Forward Connor Bedard Do you think interim coach Anders Sorensen of the Chicago Blackhawks can turn around center Connor Bedard's game? | ||
| Yes | 105 | 72.4 % |
| No | 40 | 27.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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