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Chicago Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard is expected to return from shoulder surgery for Tuesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to coach Jeff Blashill.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Chicago Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard is scheduled to make his season debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins at United Center on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. The return follows offseason shoulder surgery and a gradual ramp-up in practice.
Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill stated that Bedard is in the lineup for the upcoming game, though he noted that decisions can change until the final moment. "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."
Earlier in the day, Blashill had described Bedard's status as "trending towards being a coach's decision tomorrow night." Bedard practiced fully on Monday, marking the second consecutive day of full participation after beginning team skating on Oct. 5 in a noncontact jersey.
Bedard underwent surgery on his left shoulder a few days after an injury during an offseason training session in Vancouver on July 2. The 21-year-old expressed confidence in his physical readiness. "It feels good, I feel normal," Bedard said. "I think everyone's comfortable with everything, contact, battles. I'm excited to keep building and get going here."
Unlike his return from a right shoulder injury last season, Bedard indicated he will be able to take face-offs immediately. Last year, he missed 12 games after an injury on Dec. 12, 2025, and did not take face-offs in a game until Feb. 26 against the Nashville Predators.
Bedard is expected to center the first line between left wing Roman Kantserov and right wing Patrick Kane. The trio, along with forward Tyler Bertuzzi and defenseman Bowen Byram, worked on the top power-play unit during Monday's drills. Kane, who has a history of feeding forwards around the left circle, highlighted Bedard's shooting ability as a key asset.
"It's such a dangerous, dangerous play and obviously Connor's got a great shot, too, and he can make a lot of plays," Kane said.
The Blackhawks enter the game with a 1-5-0 record. Blashill cautioned against expecting immediate results from Bedard's return. "He’s missed training camp, missed the beginning of the season, we can’t expect him to come and just carry us to victory," Blashill said. "He’s going to be another piece of 20 guys who are playing tonight to help us win. But he’s certainly an important piece."
Bedard, named the second-youngest captain in Blackhawks history on Sept. 15, has 203 points in 219 career games. He signed a five-year, $75 million contract in the offseason.
Bedard's return provides a significant boost to a Chicago team struggling early in the season. His presence is expected to stabilize the offensive lines and improve the power play, offering a potential turning point for the Blackhawks as they face the Penguins, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars in the coming days.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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