Chicago Blackhawks star center Connor Bedard partially practiced with the team on Tuesday. He skated in a non-contact sweater, but didn\u2019t appear to have any limitations in his shooting or skating.<\/p>\n
Bedard is on injured reserve as he nurses a shoulder injury he suffered on Dec. 12 in St. Louis. He\u2019s missed 11 games \u2014 the team is 4-6-1 in his absence \u2014 including the Hawks\u2019 3-2 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n The Hawks, who\u2019ve won three straight and four of their last six, seem to be standing on sturdy feet as they await more Bedard-less contests. But Bedard won\u2019t be kept off the ice longer than he has to.<\/p>\n \u201cI would\u2019ve played against Detroit (the day after his injury), but that\u2019s part of it,\u201d Bedard said. \u201cAs a player, you tell them you feel good and you\u2019re ready to go but obviously there\u2019s importance in your health and everything.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching is a tough part, but it\u2019s been so fun to watch the guys and even when we were losing, there were so many positives. It sucks being out, watching every game and not being able to contribute is the hardest thing in the world, but just seeing how we\u2019re playing and keep getting better, that\u2019s exciting to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n In his last two practice appearances<\/a> on the ice, Bedard has shot the puck with the power that has given him 19 goals this season. He practiced with his teammates for around 30 minutes on Tuesday before doing individual work.<\/p>\n Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said after practice that Bedard won\u2019t play on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues, but he will be \u201cday-to-day\u201d from there. That sounds like positive news for the Hawks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to have him back out there involved in some of the team drills,\u201d Blashill said. \u201cGreat to see the jump that he has, so it\u2019s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n After practice, Bedard said, \u201cI feel really good, got out with the guys a little bit today and keep ramping up. I think we\u2019ve kept the timeline pretty wrapped, but like I said, I\u2019m feeling good and hopefully pretty soon I can get back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n The second half of the Hawks\u2019 young duo returned to the ice on Tuesday. Center Frank Nazar skated with Bedard before practice with a full face mask as he recovers from taking a puck to the jaw on Dec. 20 in Ottawa.<\/p>\n It helps to have a teammate and a close friend with you on the road to recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last thing I want is anyone going through it with me or anyone going through rehab, it\u2019s the terrible part of the game,\u201d Bedard said. \u201cFor both of us, (we have) each other to stay positive and I think we\u2019re both attacking it really well and approaching it the best we can and with positivity.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day, that\u2019s all you can do. Having him to push me and me to push him, it\u2019s going to make us more comfortable and better when we come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Blashill said that Bedard was to be re-evaluated \u201cin the new year\u201d and has stuck to that timeline. The coach recently revealed that he expects his third-year forward to return to the lineup before the NHL\u2019s Winter Olympic break, which starts on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n