In the thrilling world of hockey, Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard is showing steady growth and maturity in his sophomore season. As the season progresses, Bedard is learning the art of letting the game come to him, as highlighted by Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno and coach Luke Richardson in a recent press conference in Calgary.
Foligno, a seasoned veteran in the NHL, spoke highly of Bedard’s performance in a recent game against the Edmonton Oilers where he netted three points. “I thought we played a pretty good first [period] where he was working extremely hard on both sides of the puck and nothing was really going for him,” Foligno remarked. “He stayed patient with it, and he didn’t try to do more than he needed to. All of a sudden, the game came to him…last year, I think he felt like if he’s not producing all the time, he’s looking for those opportunities and maybe opening himself up. Whereas last game, he let the game come to him.”
Foligno also praised Bedard’s commitment to the defensive aspects of the game, emphasizing its importance in unlocking offensive opportunities. “It’s such an important part of the game. When you do play on that side of it, it’s amazing how the game opens up for you on the offensive side, and I think that’s what he’s seeing,” Foligno added.
Coach Richardson chimed in with his observations of Bedard’s growth, particularly highlighting a clip shown in a recent team film session. “On an offensive zone faceoff on a loss, they took off on a line rush and [Bedard] skated as hard as I’ve ever seen him skate back, and…it gave [defenseman Alec] Martinez an easy out. Otherwise, Martinez was in a one-on-one battle in the d-zone by himself…he realizes that he gets the puck back, and he’s also not wasting his energy chasing in the defensive zone for another minute after that,” Richardson explained.
Richardson also noted that Bedard is learning to pace himself more effectively, a skill that will benefit him greatly as the season progresses. Unfortunately, Bedard was unavailable for comment ahead of the Blackhawks’ game against the Flames, but his actions on the ice spoke volumes about his dedication and growth as a player.
As the Blackhawks continue their season, all eyes will be on Connor Bedard as he continues to evolve into a dynamic force on the ice, letting the game come to him and making impactful plays that contribute to his team’s success.