Connor Bedard trying to break out
of slump as the Blackhawks struggle to score
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 [November 20, 2024]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — When it comes to his scoring slump, Connor Bedard is
all about location. As in the areas of the ice where the young
forward can deliver for the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I think I got to find good spots for myself, try to get the puck in
good areas,” Bedard said. “I think that’s something that’s been
tough for me right now, getting the puck in a spot that makes it
easy to make a play. So I kind of can’t handcuff myself.”
The 19-year-old Bedard is going through some growing pains at the
beginning of his second NHL season. The No. 1 overall pick in the
2023 draft had two assists in Tuesday night's 3-2 loss to Anaheim,
but he hasn't scored in his last 10 games — a career-long drought.
There is nothing more important for Chicago than Bedard's continued
development, so Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson is doing what he
can to help — while expressing confidence that the dam is going to
break very soon.
Richardson moved Bedard from center to left wing for the matchup
with the Ducks, and he also had Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson on
the team's top line. The coach has tried several different
combinations in an effort to find some offense for a team that has
seven regulation goals in its last six games.
Bedard set up each of Dickinson's two goals in the loss to Anaheim,
but he was credited with just one shot on goal in 20 1/2 minutes on
the ice.
“I thought Connor and Dickinson found each other really nice, and
Joey always does some great responsibility work with whoever he
plays with,” Richardson said, “so it really worked out and it
clicked a few times tonight.”
Bedard was terrific last season, living up to the considerable hype
that has followed him around for years. He had 22 goals and a
team-high 39 assists in 68 games, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy
as NHL rookie of the year.
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Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, left, and Anaheim Ducks
left wing Alex Killorn fight for control of the puck during the
second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in
Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
The Blackhawks upgraded their roster over the
summer, giving Bedard an increased chance for more production in his
second year. But it hasn't worked out that way so far.
Bedard has three goals and 12 assists in 19 games this season; he
had 10 goals and seven assists in his first 19 games as a rookie. He
has a 5.5 shooting percentage and 29.7 face-off percentage, down
from 10.7% and 38.9%, respectively, in his first year.
With Bedard struggling to find his form, Chicago is off to a 6-12-1
start after it finished last in the Central Division with a 23-53-6
record last season. It has lost five of six overall.
“It’s frustrating, but I can’t go back to the past games or
whatever,” Bedard said after the morning skate. “I just kind of got
to keep playing and keep trying to get better.”
Richardson said he talked to Bedard on Tuesday about playing simple,
like his two new linemates.
“Get him skating forward and not really overthinking it. ... To get
him just to realize that sometimes shooting is great and there's a
little bit less stickhandling and playmaking,” Richardson said. “But
when you do that early I think (it) opens up plays later on.”
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