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. Bedard, according to sources, will return if he continues to feel good through Tuesday's morning skate.
Chicago's medical team has been monitoring Bedard's progress closely after he underwent left shoulder surgery in July. There are no longer medical hurdles for Bedard's 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, that will be just over three months postsurgery.
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 points than his closest teammate.
It was a devastating blow for Bedard and the Blackhawks when he injured his left shoulder during his offseason training in Vancouver. But it didn't change the way Chicago felt about the franchise cornerstone, who was selected No. 1 in the 2023 draft.
Just 10 days after the surgery, the Blackhawks announced a five-year, $75 million extension with Bedard. Then ahead of the season, they named him the second-youngest captain in the history of the Original Six franchise.
