Still, after the win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach Jeff Blahill reminded his star duo not to take any shortcuts and play the game the right way. If Bedard, Kane, and Chicago want to keep the wins coming, they can’t afford to cut any corners. In the NHL, teams must fight for every inch of the ice and second of possession.

The Blackhawks are no exception, and in fact this is only magnified for them as they lack the offensive firepower and depth other teams boast. Thus, an all-out forechecking effort is required, and the duo of Bedard and Kane, along with rookie linemate Roman Kantserov, aren’t exempt. In case it wasn’t clear by now, Blashill reminded them after the win at home over Pittsburgh.

“When [Kane, Bedard, and Kantserov] check for their offense, they’re going to be really good. They’ve got to make sure they don’t cheat for offense,” Blashill said after the 5-3 win against the Penguins at United Center, via Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

New Chicago with Bedard back

During Bedard’s season debut, the Blackhawks finally showed signs of life in the 2026-27 NHL campaign. Bedard will be the first to take credit away from him and give it to the rest of the lineup, but that’s not completely true. There’s a reason Chicago hadn’t looked a bit like it did with Bedard back when it was missing its captain.

With his return to the ice, the Blackhawks can finally say the season is underway. Better late than never, and even if it took a long summer and seven games, the Hawks are finally complete with their star back, and shining in full force. The top line of Bedard, Kane, and Kantserov hadn’t played a single minute together, but they looked like they had been together for years. Blashill believes they have already found their identity.

“Roman [Kantserov] is very happy going to the net, so you still have a guy who will go to the net on the line. Because sometimes those kind of lines get too spread out and you don’t get any plays at the net. They did a pretty good job of doing that,” Blashill commented on the top forwards’ line.

Blashill preaches shoot-first mentality

Though the win at home over the Penguins is definitely a strong indicator of what this team can do with Bedard healthy, Blashill would still like the team to fix some areas of their game. That’s not limited to the top forward line but the whole group.

“We passed up a ton of shots. We had opportunities when we could really strike and attack and we didn’t shoot,” Blashill stated after the game.

What’s next for Blackhawks?

Hoping his Hawks will take the instructions to heart and clean up their issues, Chicago will host the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 15. Having snapped their two-game losing streak and won their second game in seven outings, the Blackhawks have reason to be excited again. Finally, No. 98 is back, and it showed.

Key takeaways

• Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill warned Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane not to cheat offense.
• Chicago beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 at United Center following a two-game losing streak.
• The Blackhawks will host the Winnipeg Jets on October 15 for their next home game.

The Blackhawks’ latest injury update on Bedard appeared to remove all mystery surrounding his return date, and it pointed toward Oct. 13, when the Blackhawks host the Penguins at the United Center, being Bedard’s first game of the 2026-27 NHL season.

“First game as Captain. It’s a special honor. Just looking forward to that,” Bedard admitted ahead of his first game of the 2026-27 NHL season, which will be at home in Windy City.

When was Bedard’s last game for Chicago?

In order to relive Bedard’s last NHL appearance for the Blackhawks, one must travel all the way back to April 16. In the 2025-26 season finale, the Blackhawks defeated Bedard’s good friend Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks by a final score of 5-2.

In an interesting meeting between two former first overall selections, Bedard finished the night with a pair of assists and was named the second star of the game in the comeback victory, rallying from a deficit to score five unanswered goals, while Celebrini went scoreless and finished with a plus/minus of -3.

Why was Bedard sidelined?

Since then, Bedard has been named the 38th captain in franchise history, but he hasn’t made his official on-ice debut as captain because he has spent the past few months rehabbing from offseason left-shoulder surgery. Still, Bedard has defied the Blackhawks’ original timeline.

At the time of the procedure, the club in Chi-town announced a four-month timeline for Bedard’s return to action, but he’s now back much earlier than expected. As Bedard will play against Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, he will return to the ice 97 days after his mid-summer surgery on July 8.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard is active to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 13.
• His last NHL game was a 5-2 win over San Jose on April 16.
• Connor Bedard is returning 97 days after undergoing shoulder surgery on July 8.

“Connor Bedard is ‘trending’ toward playing [Tuesday, Oct. 13] vs Pittsburgh, Jeff Blashill says,” Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on his X account.

It was a long time coming for Bedard, who had more than once spoken his truth amid his rehab journey, and had been making progress in various fronts before his return was (apparently) finally signed off by doctors and the Blackhawks’ coaching staff.

What better game to be back than against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, the exact same matchup Bedard made his NHL debut back in the fall of 2023.

Bedard was ready, but needed final confirmation

Asked about his thoughts after shedding the non-contact jersey for the first time in practice, Bedard made it clear the ball wasn’t on his side of the court. Just like Patrick Kane had put pressure on the Blackhawks to re-activate Bedard, the young star voiced a firm statement on his progress, as well.

If it were up to him, Bedard would’ve been back on the ice a long time ago. Even if it’s been to Chicago’s detrimental record-wise, it’s a good thing he wasn’t. In the end, the patience exercise has paid off, and the wait is finally over—and worth it— for the 38th captain in franchise history.

“I feel really good. I feel pretty normal for the most part. It’s obviously on [the doctors] who know to let me play,” Bedard stated, via NHL.com, about his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Bedard could join Kane upon return to lineup

“I will be as vague, and tell you guys, as little as possible. Keep saying day by day,” Bedard said it after Monday’s practice, before Blashill revealed that playing the next day was very much in play. It’s not as if Chicago did a great job covering its tracks, though, as many speculated that Bedard could be back. The fact that he attended regular practice for two straight days may have been telling enough.

“Bedard skating with Kantserov and Kane again. Certainly looks like the Blackhawks are preparing for him to play [Tuesday],” Scott Powers of The Athletic Chicago reported.

Thus, Bedard’s return game may not have been the only information leaked; which line he’s set to join may have been revealed, too. With the Hawks in need of a spark, it looks like Blashill is going down the nuclear route, playing Bedard on the same line as Patrick Kane and rookie Roman Kantserov.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard is trending to return from shoulder surgery on Tuesday against Pittsburgh.
• Bedard was cleared for contact after shedding his non-contact jersey in team practice.
• Bedard skated alongside Patrick Kane and Roman Kantserov during drills.

Bedard himself is tired of sitting around when he feels he can be on the ice with the rest of his teammates. The captain has made that crystal clear time and again in the first weeks of the NHL campaign, and it looks like he’s finally reaching the light at the end of the tunnel. His return to the lineup may be coming soon. For Bedard, though, it can’t come soon enough.

“Connor Bedard is no longer in a black non-contact jersey. He’s joining the team for practice,” as reported by Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio 720 on X. Bedard hadn’t been cleared for contact since his offseason surgery to repair his left shoulder.

“Chicago head coach Jeff Blashill said Connor Bedard has a doctor’s appointment this coming week. Once that happens, they’ll get a better sense for a possible return date,” as reported by Roumeliotis.

What it means for Bedard’s injury update

The Blackhawks have yet to make any official changes to Bedard’s original injury timeline. At the time of his summer surgery, the team announced a four-month window for the star’s return. That timeline, which puts his return somewhere in between October and November, remains unchanged even after Bedard’s latest sighting at practice without a non-contact jersey.

According to reports, Bedard is back on the ice with no restrictions on how much contact he can take, but he isn’t fully in the clear yet. “Sounds like Connor Bedard has been cleared for some practice contact, but not a full go just yet,” Scott Powers of The Athletic Chicago wrote on X.

Chicago is keeping Bedard safe a little longer

It makes sense, and it wouldn’t be wise for the Hawks to toss their franchise player right into the lion’s den unprotected, especially as the team has lost five of its first seven games of the NHL season.

Frustration is building in the Windy City, practices will get more intense, and Bedard may not be quite ready to return to the ice with hits and checks flying around. Still, he’s inching closer. His team needs him back, but at full capacity, and Bedard needs to be back for his own good, too.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard practiced without a non-contact jersey as his return to Blackhawks lineup nears.
• Chicago maintains four-month recovery timeline for Connor Bedard following his offseason shoulder surgery.
• Reports state Bedard is cleared for practice contact, but not full contact.

It’s clear the Blackhawks need Bedard back in the lineup as soon as possible. The terrible 0-3-0 start to the NHL regular season paints a clear picture, and Kane wasn’t above admitting they could really use Bedard back. Of course, he understands Chicago’s careful approach, but he did put pressure on the Blackhawks regardless.

“Obviously we know how big [Bedard] is to our team and how much he means to our team. He looks good to me. We’d love to have him back as soon as possible,” Kane said, via Charlie Roumeliotis on X. “You want him to take care of himself though and make sure he’s good for the rest of his career, but, yeah, we definitely miss him.”

Bedard may not play on Kane’s line

Making his first appearance in a team practice since undergoing left-shoulder surgery over the summer, Bedard’s participation in team drills may hint at who he may play alongside once he’s cleared to return to NHL action.

On that note, it may be discouraging for fans to learn that Bedard wasn’t on Kane’s line during rushes. Sporting a non-contact jersey, Bedard instead alternated with Teuvo Teravainen to fill in on the second line alongside Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi.

Bedard has history with Bertuzzi, Frondell

In more ways than one, it makes sense. Before the Hawks really made an effort to help out Bedard with a better supporting cast, he and Bertuzzi kept what little hopes there were in Chicago alive. Bedard and Bertuzzi have a lot of chemistry together, and it makes sense why the young captain could be used next to the veteran alternate (not named Kane).

As for Frondell, the rookie center did play a couple of games with Bedard last season, and it appears Jeff Blashill wants to see what more he can get out of that partnership, which may very well be the blueprint for the future in Windy City.

Bedard will have to wait a bit more

Still, many would’ve liked to see Bedard next to Kane. The time will come when the Hawks will use that combination, but for now, they would rather balance their lineup. Or at least test out their options.

Bedard still hasn’t been cleared for contact. Until that river is crossed, his return to the lineup will remain on hold, and all the talk about where he should play and who should be around him won’t mean much. It’s all conjecture.

Key takeaways

• Patrick Kane praised Connor Bedard’s recovery, saying he looks good and is missed.
• Chicago Blackhawks are off to a 0–3–0 start to the regular season.
• Bedard alternated on the second line during practice rather than skating with Kane.

Thus, Bedard may have no other choice but to take things into his own hands and put in the work. He was already doing that, but he’s now taken a big step in the right direction.

Right before the team’s first home game of the NHL campaign against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 6 at the United Center, Bedard was on the ice for team practice, marking his first time group session since undergoing offseason surgery on his left shoulder.

“Looks like Connor Bedard is joining the Blackhawks for practice. That’s a new step forward,” Scott Powers of The Athletic Chicago reported on his X account.

Bedard’s participation in first practice back

For as much talk as has surrounded the Blackhawks in the offseason and the revamped expectations set on the club ahead of the new season, they haven’t shown much in their first three outings. Off to a terrible 0-3-0 start, perhaps having Bedard back on the ice—even if only in a black non-contact jersey while staying off the ice when the team went through contact drills—may help raise the flagging spirits in the Windy City.

In his first practice with the team, Bedard participated in line rushes alongside Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi, who, along with Teuvo Teravainen, play on the second line. According to Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio 720, he rotated in and out with “Turbo.” Sneak peek much?

Bedard’s timeline remains unchanged despite progress

As to when exactly Bedard may be cleared for contact, that remains uncertain. The same applies for his recovery timeline, which for the time being remains the same as the original four-month plan, putting Bedard in for a return in late October-November.

“Blashill says he doesn’t know yet when Bedard will have an exam that will clear him for contact,” according to Ben Pope of Chicago Sun-Times. Still, the Hawks won’t belittle what was an equally encouraging and massive box checked as Bedard skated with the rest of the team and went through non-contact drills.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard participated in Blackhawks group practice for the first time since shoulder surgery.
• Chicago is off to a 0–3–0 start to the NHL regular season.
• His return timeline remains set for late October or November.

Connor Bedard is missing today’s game against the Utah Mammoth because he is recovering from offseason surgery on his left shoulder. Bedard injured his left shoulder during a practice session in Vancouver on July 2.

The Blackhawks already made their season debut and loss that game 2-5 against the Golden Knights. Hence, they are missing Bedard already. Now, they face the Mammoth, that haven’t played a game so far this season.

When is Bedard coming back?

Connor Bedard does not have a firm return date, but he is expected to miss at least the first month of the season and return around November. He has traveled for the Blackhawks’ road trip and is skating and shooting on his own, making a November return the current baseline expectation barring any setbacks.

Given that Bedard signed a massive 5-year, $75 million contract extension, he is locked in as the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future. However, if he is not able to play, he is leaving the team without its best player.

Bedard is quite the difference-maker

He led the young core with 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games last season, proving he drives the team’s offensive output. Bedard simply excels at too many things. He has a generational wrist shot, elite hockey IQ, and exceptional ability to create offensive space.

Roman Kantserov and Frank Nazar are stepping up to fill the offensive and center voids. While they are not bad players, it’s clear that there is a downgrade in production without Bedard.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard will miss the game against Utah recovering from left shoulder surgery.
• Bedard signed a 5-year, $75 million extension to remain the franchise’s centerpiece.
• After losing 2-5 to Vegas, Chicago faces a Mammoth squad making its season debut.

Having recently been named team captain and entering a crucial season in which Chicago finally has real aspirations, it’s easy to see why he won’t want to miss a single moment. Bedard is joining the Blackhawks, though Blashill set the record straight, for the first road trip of the season, but he won’t practice or play, and that simply won’t cut it for the young leader who’s anxious to get back on the ice.

Asked whether his original timeline is still standing and if he will indeed miss the first month of the new NHL season, Bedard didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts. The captain’s statement is one Blashill will definitely get wind of, though the bench-boss remains committed to listening to the medical staff’s careful approach.

“I don’t know [if I will be out a month]. I’m doing what I can, [my left shoulder] feels really good,” Bedard admitted during an interview with What Chaos! “I’m out there, doing basically everything on the ice. So, who knows? It’s obviously not really up to me in the end. I would play right now if I could. A lot smarter people make that decision, but we’ll see, just do what I can on a day-to-day.”

Blackhawks clear the air around Bedard’s timeline

When Bedard suffered the offseason injury to his left shoulder and underwent surgery to repair it, the Hawks announced a four-month timeline for Bedard to be fully healthy again. That meant Bedard, who was injured in July, would be able to return to the ice in November. However, general manager Kyle Davidson has put that timeline into question, too.

“Davidson says he doesn’t have any update to Connor Bedard’s return timeline yet,” as reported by Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times. “All along, we were going to find out new information, if anything, probably in October,” Davidson admitted, per Ben Pope. “Until we have that…”

For the time being, Bedard will have to wait a little longer, even if he is growing sick and tired of being kept in bubble wrap by Blashill, Davidson, and the Blackhawks when he feels he’s ready to go.

Bedard’s injuries in Chicago

Entering the first season under his new, five-year, $75 million contract extension ($15 million AAV), Bedard wants to be out there on the ice as much as he can for the Blackhawks. Unfortunately, Bedard has been forced to miss time with injuries several times throughout his still-young NHL career.

First, Bedard broke his jaw during his rookie year, being sidelined for roughly six weeks, and missing 14 games. The injury also cost him an appearance at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, which the former first overall pick had earned an invite to.

During his sophomore year in 2024-25, Bedard was able to stay healthy all the way through, completing his first—and only—82-game campaign. With the regular season extending to 84 games, Bedard likely won’t ever finish with such a mark and be able to call it a perfect year.

Lastly, Bedard suffered what he called a “freak injury” to his right shoulder and ended up missing 13 games that season. For a second-straight season, Bedard will miss some games. Exactly how many? That remains a mystery.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard expressed subtle frustration over being sidelined for at least one month.
• General manager Kyle Davidson stated the return timeline remains uncertain until October updates.
• A five-year, $75 million extension marks the start of the captain’s new contract.

Bedard is out to start the 2026-27 NHL campaign as he is still rehabbing from offseason surgery on his left shoulder. The Blackhawks‘ star was injured while practicing back in his hometown of North Vancouver, British Columbia, and had to undergo a medical procedure.

According to Chicago’s original timeline, Bedard was set to be out for a four-month period, meaning he’d miss the first month of the regular season. However, Bedard has only sent out positive signs and made progress since. Bedard has joined the Blackhawks, though Jeff Blashill set the record straight with a clear injury update. He is with the squad in Las Vegas ahead of the Golden Knights matchup, but he won’t play or even get anywhere near the ice.

For the time being, Bedard will be spending quality time with his teammates on the road and building chemistry with them—but strictly off the ice. The Blackhawks have yet to clear Bedard to return to team practices, and they appear in no hurry to do so, even if the young star is proving to be inching closer to 100 percent. And even if he’s openly admitting he’d like to be on the ice as soon as possible, that’s exactly what Bedard did when he let the Blackhawks know how he feels about being sidelined.

Blackhawks won’t rush Bedard back to the lineup

Chicago has taken risks with Bedard before, rushing him back, and they won’t do it again. The offseason injury taught the Hawks a lesson they won’t want to learn again. With no updates made to Bedard’s injury timeline, Blackhawks fans should expect Bedard to still miss the first month of the regular season, likely returning to the lineup in late October or November.

In the meantime, they will keep coming across videos and posts of Bedard’s progress in his surgery rehab, but that doesn’t mean he’ll make his season debut soon. Not unless Blashill and the Blackhawks say otherwise. So far, they haven’t steered away from the original plan.

Who will replace Bedard?

With Bedard out of the lineup to start a crucial 2026-27 NHL season, Blashill is trusting rookie center Roman Kantserov to anchor the Hawks’ top forward line. When Chicago takes on last season’s Stanley Cup runner-ups at T-Mobile Arena, Kantserov will play alongside Oliver Moore and Patrick Kane.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard was named captain of Chicago despite his left shoulder surgery recovery.
• A four-month recovery timeline is expected to keep him out through October.
• Rookie center Roman Kantserov will anchor Chicago’s top forward line in his absence.

That was true when Blashill and the Blackhawks shut down early return rumors surrounding Bedard. It remains that way as the team announced Bedard will be joining the rest of the Hawks on the road for the opening three-game road trip of the NHL campaign. Blashill cleared the air and left no doubts: Bedard won’t play, nor will he even practice with the rest of the squad. He has work to do before Chicago can clear him for such activities.

“Chicago head coach Jeff Blashill said Connor Bedard will join the team for the start of the three-game road trip but he’s not expected to be cleared for practice during it, so he still has some hurdles to clear,” as reported by Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio 720.

When will Bedard return?

As much progress as the 38th captain in franchise history has made throughout the offseason and preseason, his initial recovery timeline remains unchanged. At least, Blashill and the Blackhawks haven’t publicly admitted to any modifications to it. Thus, the Hawks must operate under the assumption that Bedard will miss the first month of the 2026-27 NHL campaign.

Bedard underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder in July after he sustained an injury while practicing in his hometown. Since then, the Blackhawks have maintained a four-month timeline for Bedard, who could return to the lineup in November. Obviously, Bedard will make an effort to be back before then, but Blashill and the Blackhawks will roll no dice.

The 21-year-old star, captain and franchise player will have to prove himself and leave no doubts unanswered before the Hawks activate him. As things stand, though, Bedard is considered week-to-week with a shoulder injury, so anything might happen, and Bedard may actually be back before long.

Blashill makes last-minute lineup change

With Bedard out of the lineup to start the season, much speculation surrounded who would be the center on Chicago’s top line, earning the privilege of playing alongside Patrick Kane. Up until this point, it looked like Frank Nazar would run away with the 1C job. However, Blashill made a couple of shocking, last-minute tweaks to the lineup.

Instead, rookie Roman Kantserov, coming off a 64-point season in the KHL but yet to make his NHL debut, will be the team’s first-line center. Nazar, on the other hand, has been taken out of the top six and dropped all the way to the third line. In the eyes of Coach Blashill, though, it’s not a punishment for Nazar, but a way of having him carry his own line while getting a good look at Kantserov at the faceoff dot in the NHL.

Blashill explains changes to Blackhawks’ lineup

“I just felt ultimately we hadn’t gotten enough out of the three lines with the combinations we had used,” Blashill said. “One, got to see [Kantserov] at center, I feel confident he can play center in the NHL. Two, I think [Nazar] can carry his own line a little bit. If that’s the case, you could be looking at [three top] lines that could go out and win their matchup.”

In an effort to balance out the lineup amid Bedard’s absence, Blashill has sent out a clear statement with his final lineups for NHL opening night in Las Vegas. Whether it was the right move or not, the final score will tell, but Blashill has set a precedent: his pulse won’t tremble. He will have to keep it up regardless of which name comes out on the short end, though. If not, that’s a call for trouble.

Key takeaways

• Connor Bedard will join the Blackhawks’ road trip but is not cleared for practice.
• The 21-year-old captain is expected to miss the first month of the season.
• Roman Kantserov will start as the team’s first-line center instead of Frank Nazar.

“Connor Bedard isn’t close yet to joining the Blackhawks for practice, Blashill said,” as reported by Scott Powers of The Athletic Chicago.

The timing behind Blashill’s announcement on where Bedard stands in his recovery is no coincidence, either. It arrives on the heels of a recent sighting that hinted Bedard could force the Blackhawks into a rushed lineup decision, as the 38th captain in Blackhawks history was seen taking slap shots during an on-ice session.

The last time an injured Bedard was seen participating in such drills, he returned to Chicago’s NHL lineup just days afterward. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, though. Still, it’s clear Bedard is making progress and checking boxes in his return to the ice after offseason surgery to repair his left shoulder.

Bedard keeps original timeline despite recent positive news

For the time being, the Blackhawks haven’t updated Bedard’s timeline, meaning the original one announced back in July still stands, at least as far as the media can tell. Regardless of how smooth he may look on the ice in the videos on social media, the Blackhawks are taking things slow with Bedard, and he is still trending to miss at least the opening month of the 2026-27 NHL season.

Fans would love for him to somehow be fit to play in the home opener (Oct. 6 against the St. Louis Blues) and share the ice with Patrick Kane on such a special night for sports as a whole in the Windy City. That is most likely off the table.

Blackhawks chase the playoffs

Regardless, whenever Bedard makes his return to the United Center, the energy will go through the roof. Hopefully for the Hawks, by the time he’s back, Bedard can join a winning team with real aspirations to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It’s been six years (since the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs) since Chicago has played playoff hockey. For a franchise that once hoisted the Stanley Cup three times over that span, it’s unfathomable.

Key takeaways

• Jeff Blashill confirmed Connor Bedard is not close to joining practice.
• Bedard underwent offseason left shoulder surgery in July.
• The captain will miss at least the opening month of the 2026-27 season.