Connor Bedard is nearing a return to the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks as he recovers from left shoulder surgery, signaling a potential shift for the team’s struggling offense.
The ice feels different when Connor Bedard is on it, and the Blackhawks are beginning to sense his return. Three months removed from left shoulder surgery. the young center has logged three consecutive partial practices in a non-contact jersey. offering the first real sign that his absence from the lineup may soon end.
On Wednesday. the rehabilitation reached a new phase as Bedard navigated closer-quarters drills against teammates Nick Lardis. Kevin Korchinski. and Ethan Del Mastro. It was a step up from the full-rink “flow” work he performed earlier in the week. While the team has remained tight-lipped regarding when he might undergo the doctor’s exam necessary to clear him for contact. the current trajectory suggests a potential debut before the end of October.
For a team that has labored through the opening stretch of the season. Bedard’s absence is more than a missing name on the roster. When he is sidelined. every forward must slot one position higher in the depth chart than they are intended to play. His presence fundamentally alters the geometry of the game; by drawing the focus of opposing defenses. he carves out necessary space for his linemates. With the team now boasting a deeper collection of talent—including Patrick Kane. Frank Nazar. Tyler Bertuzzi. Anton Frondell. and Roman Kantserov—the prospect of a functional top-six unit is finally within reach.
His teammates are feeling the shift in energy. “Now that he’s skating with us, the whole team feels that he’s close to getting back,” said Anton Frondell. “He brings that energy. He makes the quality better in practice.”
Bedard has already missed 31 games in his young career, and the team’s record during those stretches has been stark. Returning to game speed remains the final hurdle. After two months away from the ice, Bedard admitted that the transition back to team pace is physically demanding. “I was off the ice for like two months. and I felt terrible when I got back: huffing and puffing after just gliding around. ” Bedard said Tuesday on Chicago Sports Network. “You could bike all day and there’s nothing really like it.”.
He is currently focused on strengthening the shoulder and regaining conditioning. hoping to avoid the slow start he endured last January following a right shoulder injury. when he tallied just four points in his first eight games back. For now, the veterans are urging patience. “It looks like he’s skating well, moving well and shooting well,” said Patrick Kane. “You want him to take care of himself. though. and make sure he’s good for the rest of his career.”.
Whether it’s the lack of offensive production or the scramble to fill lineup holes. the Blackhawks are operating at a disadvantage that only Bedard’s return can correct. For a franchise currently navigating the growing pains of a rebuild. the simple act of their best player skating in practice is the most significant development of the young season.
Connor Bedard Chicago Blackhawks NHL hockey injury Patrick Kane