e had some chances to make it 3-1 tonight. I dont think we got the shots we wanted to or didnt get them through to the net. Hopefully, that will come as the season goes on. I think we have a lot of confidence in what we did last year in these close games. We just need to come out and win them. Hopefully, well get a little bit better at preserving them.
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Rockford IceHogs coach Ted Dent has had a hand in the development of nearly half of the Chicago Blackhawks' current roster during his seven years with the organization.Dents instruction as an IceHogs assistant and now a head coach for the past three seasons has helped players like Bryan Bickell and Corey Crawford progress in Rockford and turn into key components for the Blackhawks.Dents team this season is one of his youngest, but its also full of players with the potential to follow in the footsteps of players like Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw,Jeremy Roenick Red Jersey, who proved themselves in the AHL and earned their shots in the NHL.Dent recently talked to ESPNChicago.com about his current team and the IceHogs role within the organization. Q. Is having a younger team like this one a different sort of challenge for you?A. I think its almost like we started the process over again, like where we were two or three years ago. I think last weekend we had eight first-year players in the lineup out of our 18, and thats a lot. First pro game, theres some jitters, and pro hockey is new. They dont know the opposition. They dont know the rinks. They dont know us as coaches yet and what we expect out of them. Traditionally, its always taken 30-40 games for our group to get going because we have so many young players every single year. But in saying that, its part of our job as coaches to bring them along, groom them and try to get them better every day.[+] EnlargeBill Smith/NHLI via Getty ImagesTed Dent has been head coach at Rockford for the past three seasons.Q. Do Philip Danault and Mark McNeil seem more prepared after completing their junior careers?A. They should be. Theyve been here the end of the last two seasons. They came after their junior hockey and joined Rockford and then played a few games, so they know me. They know the rink. They know the surrounding a little bit, the city, so that can only help. You know theyre good hockey players. Theyre different hockey players for sure. Theyre going to have different roles on the team right now even though theyre playing together. For them to make the NHL, weve talked to them about what they need to do and what they need to work on, and now we just start the process.Q. Are any of the forwards switching positions from wing to center or center to wing?A. Well, McNeil is playing right wing right now. Danault is playing center. We have a team full of guys who have played center in the past. Pat Mullane has played center and now hes playing wing for us. Byron Froese has played both positions. Alex Broadhurst has played center and now hes playing wing. So we have some guys learning some new positions as well. I think that can only help their status or their opportunity to play in the NHL when you can play more than one position.Q. Youve been with the organization for some time now. Do the IceHogs have a different role in the organization than in the past?A. Weve watched the whole game plan come together. Rockford is here to develop players for the Chicago Blackhawks,Marian Hossa White Jersey, and thats been stated by Stan [Bowman] and by management,Marty Turco Red Jersey, and thats reiterated to us here in Rockford. The priority down here is not to win at all costs. Its make sure the young guys get some ice time and play the pro game properly. I think weve seen it work here the last three years. Ive been here seven years, and Ive seen a lot of guys go to Chicago and contribute to the Blackhawks and help win two Stanley Cups, so it definitely works. Sometimes down here in Rockford, you try to do both at the same time. You try to play the young guys, get some ice time, put them in positions to succeed and fail. At the same time, were trying to win hockey games and compete for the playoffs.Q