Connor Bedard Nears Season Debut as Blackhawks Host Penguins Tuesday
No. 1 pick could return Tuesday vs. Crosby's Penguins after six-week absence
CHICAGO — Connor Bedard, the centerpiece of the Chicago Blackhawks’ rebuild, is on the verge of making his 2024-25 season debut Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center, a development that could provide an immediate jolt to a team off to a 1-5-0 start.
Head coach Jeff Blashill said Monday that the 19-year-old center is “trending toward looking like he’s got the possibility of playing” following the morning skate. Bedard, speaking separately, declared himself ready: “It feels good, I feel normal. I think everyone’s comfortable with everything, contact, battles. I’m excited to keep building and get going here.”
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft underwent surgery in September to repair a shoulder injury sustained during offseason training. The initial recovery timeline was projected at three to four months, which would have sidelined him into December. His potential return after roughly six weeks represents a significant acceleration.
Bedard’s rookie campaign was historic: 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games, earning the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie and finishing fifth in Hart Trophy voting. He centered the league’s second-most dangerous power play by expected goals and drove play at a level rare for a teenager.
His absence has been acutely felt. The Blackhawks enter Tuesday ranked 30th in goals per game (2.17) and 28th on the power play (11.1%). Chicago has been outscored 22-13 at five-on-five and has yet to hold a lead after two periods this season.
Blashill, in his first season behind the bench after replacing Luke Richardson, has juggled line combinations searching for offense. Ryan Donato has centered the top line between Taylor Hall and Teuvo Teravainen, while rookie Frank Nazar has seen middle-six minutes. Bedard’s return would likely push Donato to the wing and allow Nazar more sheltered deployment.
The matchup adds narrative weight: Bedard, the league’s newest generational talent, facing Sidney Crosby, the standard for two decades. Crosby, 37, entered Monday with 1,596 career points and showed no signs of decline, posting 94 points last season. The two met briefly in Pittsburgh last October, a 3-1 Penguins win in which Bedard recorded an assist.
Pittsburgh arrives at 4-3-1, riding a three-game point streak. The Penguins’ defense corps, missing Erik Karlsson (upper body), will test Bedard’s surgically repaired shoulder against a forecheck led by Jake Guentzel and Rickard Rakell.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has emphasized patience with the rebuild, but Bedard’s accelerated return signals confidence in both the medical staff’s clearance and the player’s readiness. The organization has sold out 14 consecutive home games despite the poor start; Tuesday’s crowd will be the largest of the young season.
Morning skate participation remains the final hurdle. Blashill indicated Bedard would take regular shifts if cleared, with no minutes restriction planned.
