Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard could return to lineup as soon as tonight
Connor Bedard may be close to a return.
While it has yet to be confirmed, the Chicago Blackhawks center may be able to play in Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
👀
I’m told we’ll be seeing @98CBedard making his return tonight for the @NHLBlackhawks . Here’s a closeup of his @sherwoodhockey pattern. He told me he uses a whippy 70 Flex and “likes the stick to some of the work.” 🛌 🔥🥅#HockeyX #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/vRn6Qfv6DK
Bedard, 18, has been out of the lineup since January 5th after suffering a broken jaw in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He’s missed the last 14 games with the injury, with the Blackhawks going 3-10-1 and scoring just 21 goals during his absence.
Bedard has come exactly as advertised this season, as he has 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 39 games in his rookie campaign. Assuming his injury doesn’t keep him out of the lineup, he’s on pace for 57 points, with his 0.85 points per game this season being the highest by a rookie since Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson in 2020-21, while also doing so on a Blackhawks team that is significantly less talented than the respective Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars teams that those two were on.
Bedard has also already become one of the best goal-scorers in the league in his rookie season, particularly at even strength. Among forwards who’ve played at least 500 minutes of ice time at 5v5, Bedard’s 1.39 5v5 goals per 60 minutes is tied for 13th with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon.
Bedard was the first overall pick for the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft, and was considered to be the best draft prospect since Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews going into the draft.
Bedard is currently in the first year of his three-year, entry-level contract with a $950,000 cap hit, which comes with the potential for an additional $3.5 million in performance bonuses each season.
The Blackhawks currently sit in last in the Central Division with a 14-36-3 record, which is the worst record in the league. They will hope that Bedard’s return will help them snap a seven-game losing streak when they host the Penguins on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EST.