Chicago Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard is likely to make his season debut Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Monday that Bedard is "trending toward" returning to the lineup, where he would center the top line alongside Patrick Kane and Roman Kanstserov.
According to sources, Bedard will return if he continues to feel good through Tuesday's morning skate. Chicago's medical team has been monitoring his progress closely since he underwent left shoulder surgery in July. There are no longer medical hurdles for his return; he just needs to get through another day feeling as good as he has recently, sources told ESPN. The Blackhawks initially assigned Bedard a four-month return. If he plays Tuesday, it will be just over three months after surgery.
Chicago has struggled early in the season, winning just one of its first six games. Bedard is expected to give the team an immediate boost and be featured on its top power-play unit, which has scored just once in 14 opportunities this season. Bedard led the Blackhawks with 75 points in 69 games last season, 17 more than his closest teammate.
The Blackhawks were dealt a blow when Bedard injured his left shoulder during offseason training in Vancouver, but the team still views him as a franchise cornerstone. Selected No. 1 in the 2023 draft, Bedard received a five-year, $75 million extension just 10 days after surgery. Ahead of the season, the team named him the second-youngest captain in Original Six history.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing