The second day of the Blackhawks’ prospect camp practices this week brought a lot more cameras and interested eyeballs to the stands at Fifth Third Arena. Connor Bedard joined the collection of Chicago prospects on the ice for another day of𝄹 working to find some combinations and learning the systems Rockford IceHogs head coach Anders Sorensen will use in Minnesota this weekend.
As you might assume if you’ve paid attention to Bedard’s comments leading up to and following the draft, he was the first skater on the ice and the last one off the surface. After a few grueling weeks at the BioSteel Camp, the NHLPA/Upper Deck Rookie Showcase and NHL North American player media event in Las Vegas, he was thrilled to be where he’s most happy: on the ice, playing hockey.
Bedard showed off the skill we’re all been watching on Youtube since the draft. This was another 90-minute practice (roughly) with the players working in smaller spaces. After the practice, Sorensen said he’s been working with players on making quicker decisions and playing more physically with the puck. So a lot of the drills were focused on passing and skating in condensed areas.
Oh, and Bedard’s shot is as legit in person as it is on television.
A few additional thoughts from today’s practice:
One line that saw a fair amount of run together was Bedard with Colton Dach and Nick Lardis. When asked about the line, Sorensen said he liked Lardis’ speed and smarts on the ice. There were a few opportunities in drills where Bedard and Lardis connected on nice passing sequences together. Sorensen also noted Dach’s size and play compliments the other two. While he wouldn’t commit to that being a line we see in games this weekend, he didn’t shy away from the idea, either. So keep an eye on that.
A couple other lines I noticed working together a good amount: Gavin Hayes with Paul Ludwinski and Samuel Savoie and Martin Misiak with Antti Saarela and Ryder Rolston.
Sorensen raved again about Rolston’s speed and compete. After his injury limited the amount Rolston could skate with Rockford late last season, this is the first really good look Sorensen has had at the Notre Dame product. But he clearly liked a lot of what he’s seen from him on the ice thus far.
Sorensen also mentioned a conversation he had on the ice with Saarela about getting used to playing on the smaller North American ice sheet. He’s played exclusively in the Finnish Elite League since the Blackhawks drafted him in the fourth round in 2019, so this is his first test on the smaller surface. Sorensen said he thinks because of Saarela’s good balance and edgework he’ll be able to adapt well, but said things do happen quicker because of the limited space.
Sorensen would not commit to lines or the amount/number of games Bedard will play in this weekend. He just smiled and said “We’ll see.”
