So far this fall, the Chicago Blackhawks have operated without their best player and new team captain, but that’s about to change in the coming days.
Connor Bedard is on the verge of making his season debut, possibly as soon as Tuesday night when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to the United Center. Head coach Jeff Blashill said after Monday’s practice that Bedard is trending toward being a coach’s decision against the Penguins, indicating he’s very close to his official return from offseason shoulder surgery.
Given the Blackhawks’ early-season struggles without Bedard, Blashill’s latest update is much-welcomed. They’ve won just one of their first six games, with only 12 goals and one power-play tally, and look like one of the NHL’s worst teams yet again.
The Hawks’ schedule hasn’t done them any favors, already having faced four Stanley Cup Playoff teams from last year, but it’s been undeniably disappointing how much they’ve struggled in Bedard’s absence. Especially given the expectations set by the players, coaching staff, and front office entering the season.
Fortunately, they won’t be without him much longer, and it’s needless to say how much Bedard’s speed, creativity, smooth stickhandling, and lethal shot will help the Blackhawks’ chances of clawing out of their current rut.
When Bedard was healthy and at his best last season, the Blackhawks were in the midst of the Western Conference playoff race and on a similar trajectory to the San Jose Sharks. Individually, Bedard was among the NHL’s leading goal scorers and point producers, going blow for blow with Macklin Celebrini on the stat sheet.
While it’s easy to pile on the Blackhawks for their disastrous 1-5-0 start, it’s somewhat foolish to over-criticize the team and draw any serious conclusions before Bedard suits up for the first time.
Blackhawks Lineup With Bedard
Whether it’s Tuesday or not, Bedard will rejoin the lineup as the Blackhawks’ rightful top-line center when he returns, presumably with Patrick Kane and Roman Kantserov as his linemates. That’s been the combination Blashill has used at the top of his forward lines during the last two practices.
Blackhawks lines in practice today:
Kantserov-Bedard-Kane
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Teravainen
Smith-Greene-Greenway
Moore-Toninato-Donato
Lardis
Byram-Levshunov
Vlasic-Cole
Kaiser-Rinzel
Korchinski-Del Mastro
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 11, 2026
Pairing Bedard with Kane, the franchise’s two most recent No. 1 overall draft picks, will surely excite the fanbase. It will also help stabilize the lineup. The Blackhawks’ top line hasn’t generated nearly enough production this season, with Kane having only two points (1G, 1A). Kantserov also went through his first five games before recording his first NHL goal and point.
Both Kane and Kantserov have been too quiet, and the Blackhawks need them to be better to achieve their lofty goals this year. Having Bedard as their new linemate should only improve on their sluggish starts.
Naturally, Bedard’s return bumps the rest of the center ice men down a notch in the lineup, relieving some of the pressure on players like Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell. That’s another way Bedard’s return benefits the team; he lightens the load for everyone else.
Nazar won’t be eligible to play against the Penguins, as he’ll serve the second game of his suspension for an illegal check on New York Islanders’ captain Bo Horvat. If Bedard doesn’t play on Tuesday, it’s likely they’ll return to the lineup together two days later when the Winnipeg Jets come to town.
Once Nazar’s suspension is lifted, the recent lines from practice indicate he could move from center to wing when Bedard returns, as he’s been rotating in with Teuvo Teravainen on the second line alongside Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi.
Blashill has stood firm on keeping Frondell at center so far this year, and that doesn’t look like it will change once Bedard and Nazar return. Frondell has proven capable of centering his own line, but Nazar is much more experienced at the position. It will be fascinating to see how the center depth behind Bedard develops throughout the season.
Frondell and Bertuzzi have remained a formidable duo, and adding Nazar provides the line with needed pace and playmaking. Playing Nazar on the wing also lets him be more involved on the forecheck, with the hope that he can use his wheels to force turnovers more than he could at center.
Nazar rotated thru for a few shifts on a line w Frondell and Bertuzzi or Teravainen
Bedard has taken every shift w Kantserov and Kane #Blackhawks appear close to having their top six finally settled
But the line of Donato, Moore, Lardis, Toninato, etc is still very awkward
— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) October 12, 2026
One player who won’t benefit from Bedard and Nazar returning is Nick Lardis, who’s been unnoticeable in most games so far this year. Lardis is averaging only 10:57 of ice time through six games, and earning more isn’t about to get any easier.
Lardis had a major opportunity in Saturday’s loss to the Hurricanes, opening the game on the top line with Kane and Ryan Greene. But he didn’t do much with it, failing to find the scoresheet with two shots on goal in 15:00 of ice time. The combination found little to no success together and couldn’t establish much sustained possession in Carolina’s end, only making matters worse for Lardis.
Even without Nazar fully participating in line rushes on Monday and Tuesday, Lardis already appears to be on the outside looking in, now skating as the 13th forward. If Bedard returns against Pittsburgh, Lardis will likely be the lone healthy scratch from the forward group.
While Lardis’ usage and role haven’t been ideal this season, he also hasn’t done himself any favors to get out of Blashill’s proverbial doghouse. When given a top-six chance, he hasn’t helped his line produce offensively. His lack of size doesn’t make him a formidable defensive player, either.
Lardis finds himself in no-man’s-land, especially with Blashill pairing Ryan Donato and Oliver Moore on the third line. Neither Donato nor Moore is an ideal linemate for Lardis, as both players are better suited on a checking-style line. That’s not Lardis’ forte, and it could cost him a consistent spot in the lineup.
Conversely, Teravainen fits more naturally as the third linemate for Donato and Moore, offering better defensive play and more experience than Lardis. Teravainen is coming off a career-worst season in 2025-26, but he’s been much better this year when healthy.
Additionally, Andrew Mangiapane is expected to resume skating relatively soon, and he’d also fit better on Blashill’s third line than Lardis. The Blackhawks would also much prefer either Teravainen or Mangiapane as the extra forward on the NHL roster, considering Lardis is still only 21 and in his second pro season.
As the Blackhawks get healthier overall, the roster logjam doesn’t favor Lardis, making him a potential reassignment candidate in the future. That development wouldn’t be ideal for Lardis, but it doesn’t mark the end of the road for him, by any means.
Lardis is still waiver-exempt, so sending him to the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL is without risk. Neither the fanbase nor Lardis would be thrilled with the decision, but the Blackhawks would be justified in it.
After six games, Lardis frankly has failed to cement himself as an NHL player and still needs to figure out how to operate at the highest level. Plus, he could benefit from consistent top-line and power-play opportunities with the IceHogs, rather than fighting for minutes in a third or fourth-line role with the NHL club.
At this point, more development time in the minors is in both Lardis’ and the team’s best interest.
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