Connor Bedard is back on the ice

Connor Bedard is back home in Vancouver, BC, and has wasted no time getting back to it. The 20-year-old is training this summer with Kaivo Hockey alongside other notable BC-born players, including Kent Johnson, Andrew Cristall, Gage Goncalves, and more.

Blackhawks' Young Star is Putting in the Work

From June to August, Bedard will train multiple times a week with Justin Rai's Kaivo Hockey, as he does every summer. The first two weeks of the program have been relatively relaxed skates, primarily odd-man rush drills, solo rushes, and casual 3-on-3 drills in tight spaces.

Given how relaxed these first few skates have been, Bedard is only going at approximately 50-75% speed, depending on the drill, but he has still looked good. As the summer goes on and the intensity ramps up, the cones and sticks will turn into actual defensemen going more than 50%, and we will be able to get a better idea of where his game is.

One thing that has stood out to me is his shot. On an ice surface filled with NHL talent, Bedard has by far the best release out of the bunch. He is taking plenty of reps shooting off the rush with his quick release.

As the summer goes on, there will be more updates on what he is working on, what is looking good, and what isn't.