Blades Blueprint: Adrien Bisson
By: Camille Frick
After playing just 11 total games in the swamp last season, defenseman Adrien Bisson will be back with the Florida Everblades with the intent to make an impact on the Blades’ blueprint for the 2024-2025 season.
“It made no sense to go anywhere else, and I was happy to come back this year,” said Bisson.
Last season, Bisson not only focused on standing out on the ice and paving his way to a spot on the Everblades roster but also made it a point to preserve that spot.
“You're going to have to make your way into the roster and staying in the roster, especially at the time that I came it was two weeks before the deadline,” said Bisson. “I was able to develop, get a few games in, [and] really experience the coast and the championship run.”
This transition from five years of Division 1 hockey at Mercyhurst College to winning his first Kelly Cup with the Everblades within three months has shaped his approach for the upcoming season.
“Now it's about how can we develop into someone that's gonna make an impact?”
Because playing at the ECHL level entails more games, more skilled opponents, and more physical capability, Bisson is focusing on training common injury spots such as knees and shoulders to ensure he’s at his peak performance for the entirety of the season.
"Making sure that I can go seventy-two games without experiencing pains,” he emphasized. “That’s going to be a big focus on my end—being able to be at top speed, top performance all year.”
This way, his offseason efforts directly affect and contribute to the type of game the Everblades are capable of having come October.
“Get bigger, get stronger, but also get healthy.”
To make the maximum impact in his position, Bisson plans on evolving his on-ice gameplay by reminding himself of the differences between the college and ECHL levels.
“It’s all about [having] crisp execution, having systems down to a tea,” he said. “That's pro hockey, you got to be able to, you know, do what you're asked, and do it consistently without flaw, and get better at it.”
Understanding his role, Bisson is ready to execute on ice despite the pressure that comes with pro hockey.
“72 games, it’s a lot but it’s also 72 opportunities to showcase what you got or get better.”
By embracing this mindset, he is set to be a key player that his linemates and team can draw from, ultimately creating the impact he’s striving to accomplish as part of the Blades’ blueprint to success.
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