Chicago Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard is set to make his season debut on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, coach Jeff Blashill confirmed. The 21-year-old center underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 and has missed the first six games of the season.
Bedard said he was eager to return. "It's only been six games, but when you miss camp and you miss preseason it feels like a lot longer," he said. "Just to be back with the guys and get to do what I love, it's exciting. Looking forward to getting back out there, for sure."
The Blackhawks have dropped five of their first six games without him, and have been outscored 26-12. Last season Bedard recorded a team-high 45 assists and 75 points. Blashill cautioned that Bedard cannot carry the team alone. "We have to understand we're adding a good piece to the puzzle, but we can't expect him to put the puzzle together by himself," he said.
Bedard agreed to a $75 million, five-year contract in July. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft became the second-youngest captain in Original Six franchise history on Sept. 15. He was injured while skating with NHL players in western Canada this summer, and the team had said he would be sidelined for approximately four months. He has no restrictions this year, unlike last season when he was not allowed to take faceoffs after returning from a right shoulder injury.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing