In a preseason game on Saturday, Connor Bedard sparked a brawl between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues. The fight started when Bedard threw punches at Blues player Zach Bolduc.
Bolduc fought back, but Bedard let him fall to the ice as teammates quickly stepped in to stop the fight. After the altercation, Bedard ended up in the penalty box.
Despite the physical play, Bedard recorded three assists, a plus-minus of +1, and 2 penalty minutes.
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson discussed Bedard's involvement in fights. He emphasized the injury risk and said:
"Connor needs to stay out of that stuff if he could."
However, he also liked Bedard's competitive spirit:
"I like the thought process of it and his mentality that he’s not going to take anything from anybody."
At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Connor Bedard may be a target this season, just like Patrick Kane used to be. Although he is smaller, Bedard can defend himself, and the Hawks want to provide him with extra support.
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This season, that support includes veteran forward Pat Maroon, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 234 pounds. Richardson called Maroon a “sheriff” on the ice, noting his ability to intimidate other players.
Last season, Maroon had high penalty minutes while playing for the Minnesota Wild. His presence is expected to help keep opponents from targeting Bedard.
Richardson also mentioned players like Alex Vlasic and Tyler Bertuzzi as enforcers who can defend their teammates. Last season, Nick Foligno broke his finger in a fight after a collision involving Connor Bedard. This new lineup aims to show opponents that they cannot push the Blackhawks around.
Despite the physical play, Bedard knows how to avoid big hits. He took 77 hits last season, ranking 502nd in the league. He also drew penalties for high-sticking and roughing.
Teammates have noticed Bedard being more involved in puck battles during training camp. They see him ready to play physically. While he might not overpower larger opponents, he is smart in his approach. Richardson noted Bedard's ability to stay calm and move on quickly after a fight.
“He’s pretty mild mannered, and he calms down quickly,” Richardson said (via chicagotribune.com). I don’t see him ever going back the next shift and slashing and going after him. I think it ends quick, his memory’s short, and that’s good."
For the Blackhawks, keeping Connor Bedard focused on scoring while ensuring his safety is essential this season as he faces challenges as a young NHL star.