Stanley Cup-winning Coach Paul Maurice on the Chicago Blackhawks: 'it's Just a Matter of Time'

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Joshua Deeds
November 22, 2024 (3:56 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks put up a solid effort against the defending Stanley Cup champions last night. They pulled away with a 3-1 victory, thanks to players who contributed which included Craig Smith, Nick Foligno, and Teuvo Teravainen.

Nick Foligno ended all hopes of a comeback when he sealed the night with an empty net goal.

The route was later addressed in the media, when Paul Maurice was asked about the Blackhawks compete level last night.

«They battle, skate and work hard, and they're going to go through the inconsistencies of youth; that's all it is,» Maurice said Thursday. «They have good young players; they have a superstar. It's just a matter of time.»

Maurice finally won his first Stanley Cup last season, when the Panthers demolished the Edmonton Oilers. A compliment from a coach of this caliber is something that the team needs to hold onto during these tough times.

«We didn't get [Bedard] here to be a defensive specialist, but the responsibility of playing against good lines comes first,» Richardson said. «It just didn't bounce for him on the offensive side tonight, but he did everything right on the defensive side of the game against one of the top centers in the league, playing against [Aleksander] Barkov's line.»

Maurice leads the NHL in victories, and despite that the Hawks have continued to be a thorn in the Panther's side, even during the rebuilding era.

Captain Nick Foligno felt confident in the team's effort last night,in which he contributed 2 points( 1 G, 1 A).

«We had a commitment to winning hockey tonight,» Nick Foligno said. «It wasn't perfect - it never really is - but [we were] not making blatant errors and taking the life out of our own game. That's where we were better.»

A number of issues lately have been on Blackhawks fan's minds, including the issue of Bedard which Maurice himself addressed as well.

«It's highly normal for a young player to come into the league as a center and spend quite a bit of time on the wing,» Maurice said. «Understanding the different positions is very, very important.»

It sounds more or less, that the Blackhawks are still in the growing pains phases, as they have shown they can play their best.

Before the game, Maurice said he understands Richardson's decision to move Bedard to wing, mentioning how he has done the same thing in years past with young Panthers forward Anton Lundell and once-young Jets star Mark Scheifele.

This goes without saying that Luke Richardson obviously has Maurice's respect as a fellow competitor and coach.

In the long run, it sounds like Maurice is urging caution before writing off the Blackhawks now. He's been through a rebuild and has had to deal with stars with the Jets, and now it would pay off if Hawks fans exercise some patience with Bedard's development.

If you look at players like Quinton Byfield, or Alexis Lafreniere it took time for them to develop.

Bedard posted 61 points in his first season in the NHL and may be working through issues the team is addressing now, including play in the face-off circle.