Connor Bedard Comments on What He Will Change This Summer After Embarrassing Season for the Blackhawks
Photo credit: NHL.com
Connor Bedard struggled in his second season at the NHL level, and now he's identified what he needs to change to help the Blackhawks turn it around.
After an incredible rookie campaign, hopes were high for former No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard coming into the 2024/25 season, and while his numbers look fairly similar, the team as a whole struggled with a lack of talent around him.
With two full seasons now under his belt, it's time that Bedard helps this team take a leap, and while can't do that all alone, he has identified areas that need major improvement ahead of next season.
So where will Bedard look to take the leap in 2025/26? Simple; speed.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, the now 20-year old stated that he wanted more speed to be a more dangerous player on the ice, and that's where his focus will be in the summer.
«Change it up a bit. I always work super hard, I think working extra smart and doing everything, but the big thing for me is just increasing my speed.
«That's going to be my No. 1 focus, and I'm talking to a lot of people and trying to figure out the science behind that. I think I can make a lot of gains this summer. I'm not focused on that yet, but when it does come, it could be a good summer for me.»
Unsurprisingly, Bedard did reveal that he's not yet looking towards the summer though, as he takes every game as an opportunity to make his mark, and with the season not yet over, he's looking to take every game the chance to learn and grow as a player.
When asked about this, Head Coach Anders Sorenson revealed the secret to playing quick as a player on the ice, and while he notes Bedard doesn't need to get quicker as he can simply use his smarts, it's definitely something that could help him.
«That's going to be my No. 1 focus, and I'm talking to a lot of people and trying to figure out the science behind that. I think I can make a lot of gains this summer. I'm not focused on that yet, but when it does come, it could be a good summer for me.»
Unsurprisingly, Bedard did reveal that he's not yet looking towards the summer though, as he takes every game as an opportunity to make his mark, and with the season not yet over, he's looking to take every game the chance to learn and grow as a player.
When asked about this, Head Coach Anders Sorenson revealed the secret to playing quick as a player on the ice, and while he notes Bedard doesn't need to get quicker as he can simply use his smarts, it's definitely something that could help him.
«You can play fast without being a super-fast skater if you're smart. Connor is smart, so he can still play fast without flying around 100 miles an hour.»
Bedard came into the NHL with unmatched hype a year ago, and while he's been great so far, the expectation is that he can put this team on his back moving forward, and with extra speed in 2024/25, we will see what other areas he can improve upon.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 10 | 228 ANSWERS Connor Bedard Comments on What He Will Change This Summer After Embarrassing Season for the Blackhawks Will Connor Bedard be an All-Star in 2025? | ||
| Yes | 96 | 42.1 % |
| No | 132 | 57.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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