Hockey Night in Canada panel suggests Connor Bedard to change position
The Hockey Night in Canada panel talked about the idea of changing Connor Bedard's position.
Last night, the Chicago Blackhawks faced the Vancouver Canucks, marking the first time Bedard played in his hometown since joining the NHL.
Despite buying tons of tickets for his friends and family to watch him play in Vancouver, Bedard couldn't deliver on the ice. His team lost 4-1, and Bedard was held off the scoresheet for the third straight game.
It's no secret that the center position comes with a lot of challenges. Every night, Bedard must face some of the NHL's best players, like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon, leaving some people to believe he could bring more to the Blackhawks by putting him at the wing.
That's what the Hockey Night in Canada panel debated last night after the game.
In a discussion with Ron MacLean, Elliotte Friedman, and Luke Gazdic, Paul Bissonnette talked about how Bedard could benefit from being moved to the wing but also stated that the Hawks likely want him to get those tough reps at center:
"In this league where your line matchups most nights you're going against juggernauts like McDavid and Draisaitl. So he just maybe doesn't have that speed burst quite yet. He seems to be getting outmuscled a little bit. So sometimes when you move guys to the wing, it can protect him a little bit.
But hey, maybe they want them there and they want them going through these drawing panes. And that's where we're at right now."
But hey, maybe they want them there and they want them going through these drawing panes. And that's where we're at right now."
Watch the full discussion in the video below:
By keeping Bedard at the center position, they are giving him the tools and experience to become a menace in that position. If he can develop as a centerman, like McDavid and MacKinnon did, there's no doubt he can reach their level.
The Blackhawks aren't looking to win at all costs now. They have time to develop their young players, and considering how rare it is to find top centers in this league, taking their time with Bedard at center doesn't seem like a bad idea.
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