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Blackhawks Connor Bedard Answers a Serious Call From NHL Critics
Photo credit: The Globe and Mail
Connor Bedard has scored 6 points in the last 5 games which has helped the Blackhawks improve their record to 3-2-0 in that period.
Since Anders Sorensen implemented a new system, that emphasized utilizing Connor Bedard's strengths, we've seen an improvement by the team.
The sophomore, 19-year old 1st-line center has scored nine goals, and 30 points in his last 35 games.
Following a rough start to the season, and plenty of call outs from fans, he's surely answering back now.
An astounding statistic that proves Bedard is back: in his last nine game Bedard's scored 11 points(4 G, 7 A) and four of those have come on the man-advantage.
Since Sorensen has taken over he has prioritized offense, and putting pressure on the opposing team's zone.
He's included defenseman in the rush, and created a system that give Bedard a chance to breath, and to shoot the puck.
Once Bedard has the puck, Sorensen has encouraged him to look for trailers on the rush because Hawks defensemen have been urged to jump up more aggressively in those situations. As soon as opposing defenses realize they have to respect and cover Hawks defensemen, that should open up more space for Bedard and his linemates (currently Philipp Kurashev and Ilya Mikheyev).
«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].»
«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].»
Once Sorensen took the reins, the Blackhawks looked like a completely different team.
Bedard's confidence has been restored, and the team has been checking at both ends of the ice.
While there's no perfect game, if watch the backcheck against the Seattle Kraken recently, the forwards are getting involved and smothering the opposing team's offenses.
Bedard is now on pace to finish this season with 21 goals and 70 points, but if we take his production and scoring pace since Sorensen took over nine games ago and apply it to the final 47 games of the season, Bedard is set to finish with 30 goals and 87 points in 82 games.
It's a foregone conclusion that the Blackhawks will not make the playoffs, as the "improvement" Kyle Davidson sold us has come, too late to save the season.
But now, we can confidently ride the tide that Sorensen has placed us on, and next season, if they remove the Interim title, he can be successful as the team's Head Coach.
Sorensen's stint with the Rockford IceHogs has been about player development, and his translation to the NHL has only been a success.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 24 | 151 ANSWERS Blackhawks Connor Bedard Answers a Serious Call From NHL Critics Do you think Interim Coach Anders Sorensen has set Center Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks on the right path? | ||
| Yes | 124 | 82.1 % |
| No | 27 | 17.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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