Connor Bedard Set for Season Debut vs Penguins

Connor Bedard is back. The Chicago Blackhawks activated their captain from injured non-roster on Tuesday, and coach Jeff Blashill has him in the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center tonight. Bedard has been out since offseason surgery on his left shoulder.

"I have him in our lineup tonight," Blashill said after the morning skate. "He's still skating right now, so I mean obviously with any player things can change. But as we sit here today, I have him in our lineup."

Ahead of schedule

Bedard got hurt during an offseason training session in Vancouver on July 2 and had surgery a few days later. The original timeline had him back in November, so Hawks fans are getting their guy weeks early. He started skating with the team Oct. 5 in a noncontact jersey and practiced fully on Sunday and Monday.

"I put a lot of time and effort into the rehab process to try and maybe come back a little earlier than I guess originally expected, but at the end of the day it's just when they felt comfortable," Bedard said. "So, it was safe for me to get back out there, but definitely happy that I didn't miss quite as many."

The best part for Chicago: Bedard says he can take face-offs right away. Last season he came back from a right shoulder injury but did not take a draw in a game for weeks. This time he is good to go from the opening puck drop, which could mean lining up across from his childhood idol, Sidney Crosby, just like his NHL debut in October 2023.

A spark Chicago badly needs

The Blackhawks are 1-5-0, and their only win was 4-2 over St. Louis on Oct. 6. Bedard is expected to center the top line between Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane, and he should slot onto the top power-play unit with Kane, Kantserov, Tyler Bertuzzi and Bowen Byram.

The track record says he moves the needle. Bedard set career highs last season with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points, and he has led Chicago in scoring in each of his first three seasons. He has 203 points in 219 career games, won the Calder in 2023-24, and was named the second-youngest captain in team history on Sept. 15.

Blashill was careful to keep expectations in check after a missed training camp. "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.

Crosby, Kane and a building that needs a jolt

Bedard on the left side of the power play with Kane feeding him from the right is the look Hawks fans have been waiting on all month. Nobody is asking him to save the season in one night. They just want to see No. 98 back in the middle with the puck on his stick, and if he lines up against Crosby for the first draw, the United Center is going to be loud.