This blog is for Blackhawks fans only.
I can’t deal with anymore trolls.
The biggest and only real discussions around the Blackhawks right now is “who should play with Connor Bedard?
“and more quietly “what is wrong with Connor Bedard?”
The Blackhawks are 16 games into year 2 of the Bedard era.
So far he’s sitting at 13 points.
Nearly a point per game player.
Having said that…they didn’t draft him to be a point per game player.
They drafted him with the hopes that he’d eventually put up over 100 points.
Nine players hit the 100 point mark last year.
He’s clearly not on pace for that right now.
The coaching staff has tried seemingly everyone with Bedard on his wings this year.
By my count it’s been Bertuzzi, Reichel, Hall, Donato, Foligno, and Teravainen.
Not a single combination has produced the results and support that the Blackhawks were hoping for this year.
3 goals this year and only 7 total dating back to last year.
That’s simply not enough.
I don’t think the lack of production is due to lack of talent or desire.
Some of it is certainly puck luck.
He’s shooting a shockingly low 5.8% compared to last year’s 10.7%.
The previous two games though were concerning.
Underlying numbers moving in the wrong direction.
you could’t improve your shooting percentage if you’re not getting any shots.
He might just be playing the wrong position in the NHL.
Playing center is harder than playing on a wing.
I want to try him on a wing.
Have him focused on attacking.
He can cheat a little leaving the zone.
He will have more space out wide and in transition.
Kucherov is so nasty on the right side.
Everything runs through him in that spot.
Bedard has some similar tools.
And most importantly the edge work.
His edges keep every defender off balance when he has the puck.
Bedard has that same ability to change direction and move the defenders with only slight movements.
The obvious, glaring problem with this idea is…the Blackhawks don’t really have any centers.
In the short term…Dickinson is a center.
Reichel has had some success there, but on the 4th line.
Kurashev can play some center.
Foligno and Donato are in the same boat.
Not great, but like I said…it’s a lost year.
It’s all about Bedard’s development.
Dickinson can skate and is the best face-off guy the Blackhawks have.
I trust those two guys to play at Bedard’s pace and get him the puck more.
Hall-Kurashev-Bertuzzi
On paper it looks okay-ish.
Kurashev is solid, you hope Bertuzzi and Hall can win enough battles and get some secondary scoring.
Anderson/Mikheyev-Foligno-Donato
Maroon-Reichel-Smith
This line has been pretty solid.
It’s been Reichel’s most comfortable position this year.
I like those two guys around him.
Overall…it’s not a good team.
Nobody is scare of that lineup.
I would like to experiment.
Pull some different levers.
No stone left unturned.
And if Bedard does light it up as a wing then that helps plan the future as well.
They know which holes they need to fill.
Worth a shot, in my humble, blogger, opinion.
