Reid Conn is set to return for his second full season in Chicago and his third USHL season. The Hockey News recently caught up with the defenseman.
Reid Conn is returning for his third USHL season. The 20-year-old defenseman figures to be a vital piece to a young Chicago Steel team looking to build off the second half of last season.
Few teams were as red-hot as the Steel after the holiday break. Chicago pushed Green Bay to overtime in a decisive Game 3 in the first round of the Clark Cup Playoffs.
From an individual perspective, Conn tallied 11 points on three goals and eight assists while forcing 52 shots on goal, all career highs, by the way.
"I thought last season was great," Conn told The Hockey News. "I thought it was a good season, personally, and a great season as a team. I think how we went from not so great at the beginning to really good and made a big push toward the end is something to be very proud of as a team. That's what's very exciting about this next year, and with our returning guys and what we can bring, that's really exciting."
Conn was in his first full season with the Steel last year after being acquired from the Fargo Force at the trade deadline in February 2023.
He's been through the highs and the lows, going from the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference in the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs to the slow start in the first half to the ascent in the second half of last season.
Having to endure those early-season struggles strengthens a player's mental fortitude.
"It can be really hard to mentally still be at your best during those times," Conn said. "The way the whole team handled it: the way the coaches handled it and the way the players handled it. It was very good, and that is what really pushed us to get to that next level, so I would credit that to a lot of it."
The Centennial, Colorado native brings a strong element of physicality and shut-down defense in his own zone. However, as the season progressed, Conn's offense began to shine through. In the second half of the season, he forced 30 shots on goal and collected seven points.
That momentum carried over into Chicago's Development Camp, where the defenseman was visibly noticeable on the ice. Whether in the defensive zone or carrying the puck deep into the offensive zone, Conn was easily a camp standout.
Going into this season, the defenseman will be considered a leader not just along the blueline but for a Steel team that figures to break in another crop of young players.
If you ask him, Conn is up to the challenge.
"I think it's great, especially since we have two tenders coming in, so I think that's a big part where I want to help out," Conn said. "It's just bringing those guys in and making them feel comfortable just being such young guys and helping them to perform their best, not only them, but all the other new guys coming in and all the returners. We have a great group of guys coming in and a great top-six returning."
Of those tenders, Conn had the opportunity to see Callum Croskery, who was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in the 2024 USHL Draft. With his ability to skate and score, it's easy to see why. However, at 16 years of age, the USHL can be a difficult league to break into, which is where having a mentor can help.
"He looks great," Conn said of Croskery. "I think that left defenseman side is something we really were looking for this year, so I think that's a great position for him to fill, and I think he has the skating, I think he has the skill, so I'm really excited to see how he does next year."
Leadership can look a little bit different for everyone. Sometimes, it comes from a coaching staff's expectations. Sometimes, it comes internally.
For Conn, it's the latter. He knows that he needs to lead by example and continue to work towards getting better every day. The defenseman will strive to push his teammates to follow his lead. Together, they will be able to reach their goals.
From a personal standpoint, Conn has been working toward adding more offense to his game. It was something that he was excited about showing more of when he came over from Fargo in a Steel system that likes to use their defensemen in the rush.
"There is a lot of upside in that," he said about his offense. "It's a big part of my game. I want to expand and work on that throughout the whole season, so I think that's something you'll for sure see more of me."
The 11 points last year were a strong foundation, but now he wants more.
In preparation for the upcoming season, Conn has been working on his skating and his shot this summer. He is also focusing on improving his defensive abilities by getting stronger in the weight room. In addition, Conn is incorporating boxing into his training regimen once or twice a week to enhance his upper body speed and explosiveness.
While no point totals are included in his list of goals for this season, Conn knows that if he brings the best version of himself to camp, everything else will take care of itself.
"A big thing for me is just wanting to push myself to be the best I can every single day," he said.
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