As the Blackhawks have continued to struggle throughout the past few weeks, Connor Bedard has found himself at the center of attention. That’s because he’s still trying to break out of the worst scoring slump of his career. He hasn’t picked up a goal in almost a month and has only gotten in the scoring column once in his last five outings, a two-assist performance against the Ducks. Bedard’s performance has been controversial in Chicago – it’s true that he’s only 19 years old and should be cut some slack, but it’s been difficult for fans to see him fail to meet his impossible expectations.
But no matter where you fall on the expectations/development spectrum for the young player, one reality is undeniable – he’s been awful in the faceoff circle. As a disclaimer, it’s incredibly common for young skaters to struggle at the dot, as it’s a skill that comes with experience. However, Bedard has had it worse than most. He’s won just 29.7 percent of his 158 draws, a number among the worst in the entire league.
As a result, the Blackhawks have recently been putting Bedard on the wing, a position he’s rarely played in his lifetime. While he hasn’t produced much more, he’s looked a bit more comfortable. In the new role, he can focus more on his offensive game, streaking up the ice and getting a bit more room to work. After the game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice even mentioned that seeing a player like Bedard temporarily shift to the wing isn’t at all uncommon.
“It’s highly normal for a young player to come into the league as a center and spend quite a bit of time on the wing. Understanding the different positions is very, very important.”
– Paul Maurice
However, according to an episode this week of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Paul Bissonnette & Co. aren’t too sure the change isn’t permanent.
I do like the idea of someone else taking draws for Bedard until he improves at the dot. As the podcast mentioned, a big part of him not being able to score comes from a lack of opportunities. That’s directly correlated to him being unable to win faceoffs, as the team chases the puck throughout most of his shifts.
However, the point about taking some pressure off him defensively is spot-on. Bedard wasn’t brought in to be the most gifted defender; he was brought in to score. Putting him on the wing full-time would give him more chances in the offensive zone.
I disagree slightly when it comes to the premise that there’s no one that could center the top line besides Bedard. Jason Dickinson was pushed into that role against the Ducks and was excellent. He’s obviously not the long-term answer, but it appears he’ll do for now. By the time the Blackhawks are good again, they should have a plethora of center talent to fill that role. A line centered by Frank Nazar with Bedard on the wing is a fun thought. The team is even working to get players like Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene to the next level, where they profile as high-caliber centers.
Top insiders suggested that Bedard’s recent move should be permanent, and it could be just what he needs to continue to blossom into one of the league’s premier talents.
