The Blackhawks will be a different team once Connor Bedard reenters their lineup.
For as flawed as they’ve looked during large portions of their first four games, it’s worth noting their holes are widened and accentuated by the absence of their best player.
It goes beyond Bedard’s own elite skills. When he’s on the ice, he attracts the focus of defenses, opening more space for his linemates. When he’s sidelined, the Hawks not only lack that but also have to move every other forward one slot higher on the depth chart than they’re supposed to be.
Bedard has unfortunately missed a number of games already in his young career — 31 and counting — and most of those have gone poorly for the Hawks. It’s harder to keep that context in mind, though, when those games come at the start of a new season, as these are.
It was interesting how woeful the Sharks looked Monday against the Stars — mustering only 13 shots on goal in a 5-0 loss — during Macklin Celebrini’s first game missed since November 2024. The Hawks have encountered that situation much more frequently than their rebuilding counterpart to the west.
For the first time in Bedard’s career, however, the Hawks have assembled a decent collection of forward talent beyond him. Once they can slot him alongside Patrick Kane, Frank Nazar, Tyler Bertuzzi, Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, they’ll have a somewhat legitimate top six at long last.
And it might not be too long until that day comes.
Bedard, who on Thursday will be exactly three months removed from left shoulder surgery, has now been a partial participant in three consecutive practices, albeit in a non-contact jersey.
On Wednesday, he maneuvered around Nick Lardis, Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro in one slightly closer-quarters drill than the full-rink “flow” drills he did Monday and Tuesday.
“It’s obviously a process, but it’s nice when you can start doing your normal things and get back on the ice,” Bedard said Tuesday on Chicago Sports Network. “[My shoulder] feels really good, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
Connor Bedard participated in practice again Wednesday.
Mark Black/For the Sun-Times
All of the Hawks sense the increasing anticipation for his return.
“Now that he’s skating with us, the whole team feels that he’s close to getting back,” Frondell said. “He brings that energy. He makes the quality better in practice. And as a friend, it’s fun to have him back on the ice.”
The Hawks haven’t shared when Bedard will undergo a doctor’s exam that could clear him for contact, which would allow him to fully participate in practices and — probably not long after — make his season debut.
But it certainly seems possible that could happen by the end of October.
“It looks like’s skating well, moving well and shooting well — all the stuff with the upper body,” Kane said. “He looks good to me. Obviously, you want to have him back as soon as possible. You want him to take care of himself, though, and make sure he’s good for the rest of his career.”
For now, Bedard is strengthening his shoulder and getting back into game shape.
Once he does return, the Hawks need him to be sharper right away than he was last January, when he recorded only four points in his first eight games back from his right shoulder injury before finding a rhythm.
“I was off the ice for like two months, and I felt terrible when I got back: huffing and puffing after just gliding around,” Bedard said on CHSN. “You could bike all day and there’s nothing really like it. It’s been huge for me [that] I’ve been on the ice for probably five or six weeks now, and it’s starting to feel good.
“But even skating with the team the other day, it’s just another pace you’ve got to get used to. It’ll be nice to get some practices in.”