Connor Bedard adjusts his mindset with new Chicago Blackhawks linemates: ‘I can’t handcuff myself’

Usually, Joey Anderson and Jason Dickinson jump on the ice when the Chicago Blackhawks need them to cool off the top scorer on the opposing team. Now they’re being asked to help the Hawks’ own franchise player heat up his offense. Tuesday, against the Anaheim Ducks, Anderson and Dickinson join the top line with Connor Bedard, hoping their disciplined style will result in more scoring opportunities for Bedard. “They’re both so responsible,” Bedard said. “You always know where they’re going to be, so it makes it easy when you have the puck. And when you don’t have the puck, they’re going to be in the right spots and find you with the puck. Anderson said they can best help Bedard by playing the same way they always have. “We don’t change our game,” he said. “Hopefully we can dig pucks out for Connor, get him into some positions where he can go and make his plays, and we get to the net, essentially try and continue our possession game that we try to have and do our best to get Connor pucks in good spots. “Just having him there will be nice. We’ve got a guy with world-class talent that puts the puck in the net and makes plays and (we have to) try and compliment that as much as we can with our game.” It seems an odd match at first. Neither Dickinson nor Anderson are shooters per se, but together they make up a 51.6% share of scoring chances versus the other team in five-on-five. Without them, the Hawks average 43.8%. Because they think defense first, assist second, coach Luke Richardson reasons they could be just what Bedard needs to break out of his nine-game goal slump. “They always seem to consistently play very well together, a lot of give-and-go passing which is going to be great for a guy like Connor,” Richardson said. “Just talking to Connor (I told him) to be ready on that offside in a shooting position, be ready to shoot. “We want to get more shots to the net. I think that’ll help both Connor and the team.” Dickinson will center the line and Bedard playing left wing for the first time this season. Bedard said, “It’s still hockey. Just in the D-zone, it’s the only part that’s a little different, but it’s probably a little easier on the wing (to) know what to do.” He has taken the most faceoffs on the team (263) and has won 46.8% of them. Bedard has been abysmal at the dot at a team-worst 29.3% (minimum 10 draws). More faceoff wins in the offensive zone should lead to more chances, theoretically. Bedard will focus on finding openings in the zone. As Anderson alluded, “I think I’ve got to find good spots for myself, try to get the puck in good areas,” Bedard said. “That’s something that’s been tough for me right now, getting the puck in a spot that makes it easy to make a play. Richardson doesn’t want Bedard to get too much in his own head about his struggles. He cautioned to keep it simple. “Someone who’s used to having a lot of success, you see your name on the scoresheet, whether it’s goals or assists, (you) get frustrated and they start breaking down their own game,” he said. “Today, simple is just the way Dickinson and Anderson play. It’s straight ahead, it’s kind of how this other team plays so it’s going to be good. “Get (Bedard) skating forward and not really overthinking it and looking for making plays too many times when it’s not there. … Just get him to realize sometimes shooting is great, and there’s a little bit less stickhandling and playmaking, but when you do that early I think it opens up plays later on.” Bedard has consistently said, and reiterated today, that he’s not pressuring himself and he’s not pressing when he’s on the ice. “I think in the end, once you’re playing, you’re not thinking too much,” Bedard said. “Obviously it’s frustrating, but I can’t go back to the past games or whatever. I’ve just kind of got to keep playing and keep trying to get better.”