Tyler Bertuzzi is putting in the work to maintain consistency on the ice. The Blackhawks' new coach, Jeff Blashill, has been instrumental in helping him do just that. Bertuzzi's past few seasons have seen their share of hot streaks and cold spells, with last year being a particularly trying one. He's hoping this season will be different.
In September, the 30-year-old forward went to Blashill and asked for his guidance on how to smooth out his production over the entire season. The coach replied that he knows about Bertuzzi's streaky play and is looking forward to monitoring him throughout the year. One of the assistant coaches will keep a close eye on Bertuzzi, making sure he's not getting too hot or cold.
Bertuzzi has been quite productive since Blashill took over as head coach, with 14 points in his first 15 games under the new regime. He's also seen improvement in his chemistry with Connor Bedard on the power play, earning a promotion to the top unit during five-on-five play. Bertuzzi is taking things one game at a time and staying focused.
There have been some concerns raised about Bertuzzi's shooting percentage, which came in at 28.1% last season. However, he's worked hard to develop his skills and has found ways to score goals that are harder for goalies to stop, such as tap-ins and deflections around the net.
The Blackhawks' coaching staff is pleased with the progress Bertuzzi has made so far under Blashill's guidance. The coach knows how to get the most out of his players, and Bertuzzi is no exception. With a new normal established, it will be interesting to see if this consistency can become a staple for the 30-year-old forward.
As for other Blackhawks players, Philipp Kurashev has been having an excellent start to the season, averaging nearly 18 minutes per game and picking up 10 points in his first 15 games. Seth Jones is still searching for his first goal of the season despite playing a significant workload. Taylor Hall is looking like his usual self, recording eight points in 16 games in a secondary role. The rest of the team is still working to find their footing.
Bertuzzi's chemistry with Bedard has been one of the biggest storylines of the season so far, and it will be interesting to see how these two players continue to develop together under Blashill's guidance.
In September, the 30-year-old forward went to Blashill and asked for his guidance on how to smooth out his production over the entire season. The coach replied that he knows about Bertuzzi's streaky play and is looking forward to monitoring him throughout the year. One of the assistant coaches will keep a close eye on Bertuzzi, making sure he's not getting too hot or cold.
Bertuzzi has been quite productive since Blashill took over as head coach, with 14 points in his first 15 games under the new regime. He's also seen improvement in his chemistry with Connor Bedard on the power play, earning a promotion to the top unit during five-on-five play. Bertuzzi is taking things one game at a time and staying focused.
There have been some concerns raised about Bertuzzi's shooting percentage, which came in at 28.1% last season. However, he's worked hard to develop his skills and has found ways to score goals that are harder for goalies to stop, such as tap-ins and deflections around the net.
The Blackhawks' coaching staff is pleased with the progress Bertuzzi has made so far under Blashill's guidance. The coach knows how to get the most out of his players, and Bertuzzi is no exception. With a new normal established, it will be interesting to see if this consistency can become a staple for the 30-year-old forward.
As for other Blackhawks players, Philipp Kurashev has been having an excellent start to the season, averaging nearly 18 minutes per game and picking up 10 points in his first 15 games. Seth Jones is still searching for his first goal of the season despite playing a significant workload. Taylor Hall is looking like his usual self, recording eight points in 16 games in a secondary role. The rest of the team is still working to find their footing.
Bertuzzi's chemistry with Bedard has been one of the biggest storylines of the season so far, and it will be interesting to see how these two players continue to develop together under Blashill's guidance.