:“You have to work within your team,” Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson stated during post-playoff exit interviews. Any coach must work with the hand they get dealt and get the most out of that group. For the Bears, that group is different, most notably behind the bench, with Nelson heading to the NHL as an assistant for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Derek King’s hiring as the new coach.
King takes over a Bears team in a unique spot. The standard for the American Hockey League’s (AHL’s) most decorated franchise is a Calder Cup or a bust, and after back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, the team came up short last season, losing to the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division Final. The Bears are expected to return to glory and do so with King trying to fill the big shoes left by Nelson.
It’s also a tall task for King to win with a team that went through significant turnover in the offseason, even by AHL standards. The Bears lost multiple core players from the Calder Cup runs and have a younger team without a clear-cut identity. With the Atlantic Division also wide open for the first time in a while, King’s first season will be a tough one ahead of him, and it will be interesting to see how he coaches and manages the Bears to get the most out of the group.
Hershey’s Goaltending Question Marks
The Bears relied on the Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson goaltending duo in recent seasons. When one was called up to the NHL, the other was around to hold down the fort for a few games. When the playoffs rolled around, Shepard would step up and deliver, leading the Bears in both playoff runs.
Shepard was signed by the Ottawa Senators in the offseason. It leaves the Bears with Stevenson as their primary starter, yet he’s in an interesting spot in the Washington Capitals organization. He’ll be the first goaltender they call up, and if there’s a big deal on the table, he’s the player they might trade, considering he’s an NHL-caliber goaltender. There’s no guarantee Stevenson will be around for most of the season, and the Bears will have to turn to Garin Bjorklund, who showed promise late last season with 49 saves in 52 shots in two starts, as a result.
With Bjorklund and potentially other unproven goaltenders in the net for the Bears, the team can’t play with the same confidence as they did in the past. It’s why King’s system in the defensive zone will adjust to protect and help out the goaltenders. The Bears were an excellent shot-blocking team under Nelson and cleaned up loose pucks to prevent second chances, so the same will be expected under King. This season, it will also be about moving the puck out of the defensive zone and keeping it in the offensive zone, leading to the benefits of the latest offseason additions.
New Additions For The Bears Will Help King’s Adjustments
The Bears lost a lot of talent but being the standard in the AHL, they acquired a handful of elite AHL veterans as well. The two on the blue line in particular will allow the Bears to pivot and become a better puck-moving team.
Louie Belpedio was a constant thorn in the Bears’ side as a hard-hitting defenseman for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. What goes unnoticed with the long-time AHLer’s game is his ability to move the puck up the ice and set up the offense. Belpedio had 23 assists last season and will not only set up rushes with breakout passes but will also be a key playmaker at the point.
The same is true about Calle Rosen, the former Colorado Eagle who had 10 goals and 24 assists last season. He’ll set up the offense and, more importantly, help out a power play that struggled last season as he can get the puck to the net.
During King’s introductory presser, Bears vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer, who made the hire (with oversight from the Capitals), noted how the team is trying to adapt. The Checkers swept them and did so with pressure and by quickly moving the puck into the offensive zone. The King hire was made because he can coach up a team that generates that type of pressure. With two puck-handling defenseman added to a group of younger and faster skaters, the Bears will play a North-South style where they turn defense into offense.
King’s Style Will Get The Most out of Capitals Prospects
The Capitals have one of the best forward units in the NHL, and it helped them earn the best record in the Eastern Conference last season. For a prospect to earn a roster spot, they must stand out and prove they can stay at the NHL level. Hendrix Lapierre, Ivan Miroshnichenko, and Bogdan Trineyev are the top three forwards on the Bears roster fighting for one or two spots.
Between the three skaters, at least one of them will be in Hershey most of the season, and possibly two of them. It allows King to build the offense around them. Lapierre and Miroshnichenko are playmakers who can skate, while Trineyev is a power forward who can score.
For King, it allows him to play fast and have a great offense while getting the most out of the prospects. It will allow all three to eventually join the Capitals and kick off the ground running, as they’ll be ready for that next step.
The Expected Growing Pains Under King
The adjustment from Nelson to King will be difficult. The Bears knew Nelson and knew the system he ran. Even the new players who would join the team midseason would understand the culture and the system and buy in right away. Nelson not only understood the players on the ice but off it as well. He was relatable and took the time to get to know each player.
“What I like about Derek is that he’s a lot like Todd,” Helmer added following King’s introductory presser. He not only can adjust on the fly but is relatable and a player’s coach. It’s why, over time, King will have the Bears near the top of the standings and competing for a Calder Cup.
The Bears won’t have their usual hot start. They typically start the season at the top of the division and don’t look back. This season, they will have a rocky start, especially since the rest of the division has improved with multiple teams capable of becoming Calder Cup contenders.
That said, King’s mission is to adjust and get the most out of the Bears. Hershey may no longer stand alone atop the AHL. Nevertheless, it’s still a very good hockey team.
