The Chicago Blackhawks scrimmaged again on Day 2 of training camp at Fifth Third Arena, keeping practices at a fast pace — a departure from the past, when they gradually ramped up with drills.
Consider Connor Bedard a fan.
“You’re just kind of itching for any game situation,” he said Friday. “It was really good. It was a lot of fun to get into that. Excited for another one tomorrow.”
Coach Luke Richardson said the players looked good.
“Management really liked watching it,” Richardson said. “All the pro scouts are here so it was a good chance for them. So we added another 10 minutes today.”
General manager Kyle Davidson backed Richardson’s assessment and wants to see more of it.
“I like the adjustment he’s made with more intensity through the scrimmages and harder practices,” Davidson said. “It’s something that’ll be constantly ongoing.”
The team has broken up players into three groups, but Richardson might shake things up at Saturday’s practice in preparation for Wednesday’s preseason opener at home against the Detroit Red Wings.
Coaches want to “create a little more opportunities to score, but also working on our defensive game at the same time,” he said.
Here are four things we learned at camp Friday.
1. Artyom Levshunov will miss another month — if not more.
The defenseman, who missed last week’s prospect showcase, remained on the injured list, along with goalie Laurent Brossoit and forwards Alex Pharand, Marcel Marcel and Marek Vanacker.
Davidson said Brossoit (right knee surgery) and Levshunov (right foot) are on similar timelines to return, but he sounded less optimistic about Levshunov, the No. 2 pick in the draft this summer.
“So, him and (Laurent) Brossoit are both the same, they’re probably another four weeks with Arty being on the closer to four or maybe a bit more, give or take. Brossoit maybe a bit less.”
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on Artyom Levshunov’s foot injury pic.twitter.com/Uv8LTjosf0
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) September 20, 2024
“They’re probably another four weeks with Arty being on the closer to four or maybe a bit more, give or take,” he said. “Brossoit maybe a bit less.”
Richardson and Davidson have said Levshunov has stuck around the building and stays upbeat.
“He’s pretty disappointed but he’s able to do a lot of other training, so it’s not like he’s sitting around, sedentary, doing nothing,” Davidson said. “But I’m sure he’s anxious to get going.”
If his recovery remains on track, Levshunov could start skating within a week, Davidson said.
2. Connor Bedard is back, but how can he get better?
How do you build on a Calder Trophy-winning season as the NHL’s top rookie? Bedard said he worked on “a lot of speed” over the summer.
“That was in the gym and on the ice, just try to put myself in as (many) game situations as I can,” he said. “Coming here, I’m ready to do that.”
Photos: Chicago Blackhawks open training camp at Fifth Third Arena
Bedard, 19, saw his share of adversity and difficult situations last season.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft was mobbed by media during many stops on the schedule, suffered a broken jaw midseason, endured a franchise-record-tying 22-game road winless streak and became entangled in the Corey Perry scandal because of a pernicious (and false) internet rumor through no fault of his own.
“I learned a lot last year,” Bedard said. “It’s going to be beneficial for myself coming in this year and having the knowledge of playing in the league and dealing with everything on and off the ice. Happy to have that and not the curiosity of what’s going to happen.”
Hawks management just wants Bedard to keep learning the nuances of the NHL, especially because he’ll have new veteran forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teräväinen in the lineup, as well as the return of linemate Taylor Hall from right knee surgery.
“It’s just growing that 200-foot game,” Davidson said, alluding to Bedard’s defense and play without the puck. “I’m sure from his standpoint he probably wants to up his offensive output as well. But I’m excited to see him with some new linemates and really taking that step (showing) that now he understands the league.”
Richardson said Bedard won’t be coached any differently from his rookie season, though he’s already noticed certain differences in the young center.
“He’s already come to camp in better shape, or maybe it’s just his body’s maturing as well and he’s been through the league now for a year,” he said.
The main difference is that the front office has surrounded him with more talent and experience.
“And now my job is to push that forward, and he’s got to be pushed forward just like anybody else,” Richardson said. “So if you’re Taylor Hall and you turn a puck over, you’re going to have to hear about it, and there’s always circumstances and consequences for that.
“And he has to know that he’s just like anybody else on the team.”
3. Hawks now have options with coaching Kevin Korchinski.
The young defenseman has to work on his positioning — and earning his position on the team.
“Sometimes he doesn’t realize where his body is on the ice,” Richardson said. “He’s watching the play but he kind of floats around and he’s so quick and explosive, he usually gets back in and gets his stick on something. But you don’t have to be in a scramble mode all the time.”
Korchinski played 76 NHL games last season and bulked up a little over the summer, but coaches and management think he could use some time in Rockford if that’s where he lands. The 20-year-old has aged out of his junior club and is AHL-eligible.
“The organization’s used that in the past for guys like (Alex) Vlasic and (Wyatt) Kaiser, even the second half of last year, but we want the players to show us who’s going to fit in where,” Richardson said.
Last year’s injury-plagued Hawks needed Korchinski to eat minutes and learn at the NHL level. But now there’s more competition on the blue line with the addition of veterans Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie, and it wouldn’t serve Korchinski to ride the pine as a seventh defenseman.
“This is an imperative time for (young defensemen) to be skating in a game situation, playing as many games as possible,” Richardson said.
A year ago, if Korchinski struggled badly and needed more seasoning, he would have had to return to the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds.
“You don’t want to send him back to junior, because he’s already been to the Memorial Cup twice, the World Junior twice,” Richardson said. “He’s done all that. You’re just going to get poor habits from being too good for that league.
“So that’s where the rules really didn’t benefit him last year. But this year he looks confident, he looks bigger and stronger, and we just work on his positioning every day, as in any young defenseman. And we’ll just see where he tells us he should be.”
4. No appetite for reporters’ questions — or Chicago pizza.
In his first session with reporters at training camp, Bedard couldn’t resist tweaking the media, which inundated him with questions during his rookie season.
“Just way less stuff (to deal with recently), like I didn’t have an interview for a couple of months, which was unbelievable,” he said.
“I’d never tell you, but I have stuff in my head, for sure.”
—Connor Bedard when @MarkLazerus asked if he has statistical goals in mind pic.twitter.com/75Jlf7Lwz9
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) September 20, 2024
Later, when was asked if he had any numbers (such as goals, assists ) in mind, he shot back: “Yeah, I’d never tell you. But I have stuff in my head, for sure.”
And still, that question received less of a scorching review than Chicago’s famed deep-dish pizza got from free-agent acquisition Tyler Bertuzzi.
“I had a deep dish. I’m not a fan of it,” said Bertuzzi, who did like some other restaurant recommendations in the city. “Yeah, it’s just different. (I like) just flat bread. Just normal pizza.”
“I had a deep dish. I’m not a fan of it.”
—Blackhawks newcomer Tyler Bertuzzi on Chicago pizza pic.twitter.com/SviQRGgYk6
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) September 20, 2024
