Star center Connor Bedard partook in Chicago Blackhawks practice for the first time this season Monday. It’s a big step forward as the team captain
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, who had left shoulder surgery in July, works toward his anticipated season debut.Bedard, 21, wore a black noncontact jersey as he rotated in at right wing with Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi during line rushes. He dished out only light passes on his left side but didn’t appear to have any limitations shooting or passing with his right. He injured his right shoulder last December in St. Louis, so there doesn’t seem to be any more concern there.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli told Chicago Sports Network on Saturday that Bedard is “within a three-week window” for his return to the lineup. Coach Jeff Blashill didn’t have an update Monday about when Bedard would be cleared for contact.
“On days when you can do some of the stuff that we’re doing today at the beginning, it’s awesome to have (Bedard) out there,” Blashill said. “You want to have other people on the ice and you want to be used to that, so it’s great that he’s able to do that.
“Right now he’s not cleared for contact. I don’t have a date in which he’ll have an exam to be cleared for contact, so I can’t give any kind of update on (the) timeline other than he’s out there skating noncontact.”
Bedard was practicing with other NHL players and prospects July 2 in Burnaby, British Columbia, near his hometown of Vancouver when he stumbled hard into the boards. He left the ice holding his left shoulder in clear discomfort.
He underwent surgery July 8 and was given a four-month return timeline. He would be ahead of schedule if he does come back in three weeks, but the plan for now remains that he will begin his fourth season in early November.
Bedard has missed extended time in his first, third and now fourth years with a fractured jaw and injuries to his right and left shoulder, respectively. The 2024 No. 1 draft pick has 203 points (75 goals, 128 assists) in 219 career games.
Not much went the Hawks’ way without their captain during an 0-3 opening road trip. Offense was hard to come by and the defense was porous as they were outscored by a combined 15-5 in Las Vegas, Utah and Buffalo.
Bowen Byram returned to practice Monday after missing his homecoming game against the Sabres on Saturday. The 25-year-old defenseman shared that his wife, Kailey, gave birth to twin girls last week.
Sam Rinzel, 22, skated in the third defensive pair with Wyatt Kaiser after being healthy scratched for the Sabres game.
The Hawks will play eight of their next nine games at home, starting with Tuesday’s home opener against the St. Louis Blues. It will be Patrick Kane’s first game at the United Center since returning to the Hawks this summer.