{"id":284145,"date":"2025-11-10T23:20:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T23:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/284145\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T23:20:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T23:20:09","slug":"blackhawks-louis-crevier-working-on-passing-as-he-settles-into-permanent-nhl-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/284145\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackhawks’ Louis Crevier working on passing as he settles into permanent NHL role"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blackhawks<\/a> defenseman Louis Crevier is ready to spend less time in hotels.<\/p>\n

Despite making 56 NHL appearances in the last two seasons, he never quite became established enough in the Hawks\u2019 lineup to earn a housing letter, which would have enabled him to move out of the extended-stay hotel. This season, he finally got the letter, searched for an apartment, signed a lease and moved in \u2014 only to fly out west immediately.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I spent three days there, then we went on a two-week road trip,\u2019\u2019 Crevier said Sunday, chuckling. \u2018\u2018But it\u2019s nice knowing that I can come to a place [where] I have my stuff.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018It\u2019s a sign of confidence from the team, as well. It\u2019s going to help me when I come back to my place. It\u2019s going to help me refocus after a good or bad game.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

It is indeed a sign of confidence from the Hawks and head coach Jeff Blashill, who seems to trust Crevier wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n

Crevier, a 6-8 former seventh-round pick<\/a> now locked up on a two-year contract<\/a>, has proved he deserves a full-time spot in a young defensive corps otherwise loaded with top prospects. He\u2019s borderline bashful off the ice but increasingly confident on it.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018He\u2019s been really, really good for us,\u2019\u2019 Blashill said. \u2018\u2018What is he, 6-100? He\u2019s a huge guy, real long reach, does a great job defending, has been really good on our penalty kill [and] can add some offense with his shot.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Crevier said he\u2019s trying to hold on to the mentality his instability forced him to adopt the last two seasons \u2014 that he has to earn his playing time every day \u2014 even though he now has stability. On the other hand, he\u2019s putting less pressure on himself now.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018The Jell-O is coming together,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u2018\u2018I have a lot of fun playing, and I\u2019m enjoying every moment.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Crevier never will be confused with an offensive defenseman, but he does have a respectable six points in 15 games.<\/p>\n

And, as Blashill noted, his shot is an asset. He shoots without hesitation when he gets a chance, and the puck rockets off his stick. His 98.3 mph blast last week in Edmonton is the eighth-hardest shot in the NHL this season.<\/p>\n

But Crevier\u2019s biggest focus right now is more frequently executing a very different type of play: short passes in the defensive zone to relieve pressure and jump-start breakouts.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I could make an easy play, just rimming it [around the boards] or something like that, but sometimes you have a better play out there,\u2019\u2019 Crevier said. \u2018\u2018I\u2019m never going to be the crazy defenseman that tries all these small plays, but once in a while [I will] not panic and make a pass that\u2019s a little bit harder to do. It helps us get out of the zone better.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The coaching staff has talked with him about that at length, and he pushes it to the forefront of his brain before every game because staying calm and looking for those passing options is more than half the battle. Protecting the puck isn\u2019t difficult at his size.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018An important piece of his maturation process,\u2019\u2019 Blashill said, \u2018\u2018is understanding he\u2019s such a big man that it allows you that extra split-second to hold on to the puck and .\u2009.\u2009. not just necessarily throw it up the wall.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Sometimes you have to make a hard play, for sure. But when you have that extra split-second, it allows you to go tape-to-tape on a more consistent basis.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Crevier\u2019s growing comfort level in the NHL aids with that, too.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I\u2019m not scared of making a mistake,\u2019\u2019 Crevier said. \u2018\u2018I don\u2019t want to, but I\u2019m not thinking about it all the time. It\u2019s the opposite. [I\u2019m] thinking, \u2018I can make the play,\u2019 instead of, \u2018What if I miss?\u2019 It\u2019s a different approach.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Tyler<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Moving Connor Bedard onto the right flank and promoting Artyom Levshunov and Andre Burakovsky onto the top unit have yielded dividends for the Hawks\u2019 power play.<\/p>\n

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
\n \u00a0\n <\/p>\n

read<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Connor<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Bedard added another three points to his league-leading tally of 25, plus Arvid Soderblom made a career-high 45 saves and Oliver Moore scored his first NHL goal in the Hawks\u2019 5-1 victory Sunday.<\/p>\n

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
\n \u00a0\n <\/p>\n

read<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Andre<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The 7-5-3 Hawks continue to exceed expectations. Their high shooting and save percentages are two major reasons why, but are those two things necessarily unsustainable?<\/p>\n

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
\n \u00a0\n <\/p>\n

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