Let’s start with the obvious: The Chicago Blackhawks need Connor Bedard back.
They needed to build around him, too. General manager Kyle Davidson added pieces this offseason, trading for Bowen Byram, signing Ian Cole and Cole Smith, and later bringing Patrick Kane back for a second Hawks stint.
Things were looking promising — until early July. Bedard was skating in an unofficial practice when he fell into the boards, injuring his left shoulder. The star center had surgery days later with a four-month recovery timeline.
Unlike Bedard’s other two injuries (fractured jaw in 2024 and a right shoulder injury last year), the Hawks could at least prepare to be without their current captain. It was another tall task for coach Jeff Blashill — getting his team ready for a tough road trip without their best player.
Despite Bedard’s injury, the expectations for the 2026-27 Hawks were heightened. They aren’t Stanley Cup contenders yet, but this season seemed to be poised for a big step forward.
That’s not how things have gone, at least so far.
The Vegas Golden Knights cruised past the Hawks, as did the Utah Mammoth, while the Buffalo Sabres used a third-period comeback to keep the road team winless. The Hawks lost their first three games in regulation, outscored 15-5.
They won their home opener against the St. Louis Blues in Kane’s United Center return, but that’s where the good news ended for the Hawks through six games. A frustrating loss to the New York Islanders and a home waxing against the Carolina Hurricanes left them at 1-5-0.
Still, Bedard has seen positives from his team while watching from off the ice.
“We have so many great players, even (through) six games, that you can see have gotten better with each game,” Bedard said on Monday. “A big thing is we’re never quitting, we’ve been down big a couple games and we play like (we’re) at 0-0, that’s going to be really important for one-goal games.”
Bedard is very close to returning to the Hawks lineup — perhaps as soon as Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins — which would be earlier than his original November timeline. It’s no secret that the team will be significantly better with the 21-year-old playing.
But will it fix everything? Probably not.
The offense should see immediate improvement, as Bedard’s ice vision and top-notch puck handling make all of his linemates better. On Sunday, Connor Bedard joined the team for full-contact practice for the first time this season. He did so again on Monday, centering the top line with Kane and Roman Kantserov.
“(I feel) good, I feel normal,” Bedard said. “I think everyone’s comfortable with everything, (so) I’m excited to keep building and get going here.
“They’re two amazing players (who play) the game at such a high level. For me, it’s just getting to spots where they want me, but all three of us think about the game in a similar way. It’s nice to have a couple skates and, once I’m back playing with them, just keep growing shift by shift.”
Bedard was cited as a big reason why Kane returned to the Hawks, and their first game sharing the ice as teammates is approaching.
“I think it’s definitely a boost to the whole team,” Kane said about Bedard’s pending return. “Seeing what he’s capable of doing out there just in practice, it’s high-level skill — the way he attacks, the way he can make plays off attacking, he’s a special player and he’s a big part of our team, so it’s nice to see him back.”
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The norm is that Bedard will shoot when needed, but will the other Hawks follow suit? It hasn’t been that way in the captain’s absence.
The Hawks have produced an average of 21 shots on goal per game this season. That’s the second-lowest in the NHL, only ahead of the winless Philadelphia Flyers with 20. They’ve cracked 25 or more shots in a game just twice.
Players who should be taking shots have struggled thus far. Nick Lardis is trickling down the lineup, Byram hasn’t produced enough power-play opportunities, and the forwards outside of the Cole Smith, Ryan Greene and Jordan Greenway line have not been consistent.
Figuring out the power play, where they’re 1/14 with 10 shots on goal, will lift some weight off the players’ shoulders. The Hawks ran practice with Kane back on his natural right side on the top power-play unit and Bedard on the left.
“I’ve probably played more the other side in my career, but I feel comfortable over there, and we got four amazing players that can think the game at such a high level and get open for me,” Bedard said. “If I don’t have the puck, then (Kane) has the puck, (which) I think I’d probably rather have that.”
Added Kane: “We weren’t able to really have sustained pressure, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with position or not, but I didn’t feel too bad on the left. I thought it looked pretty good in practice today for the first time and just kind of getting used to each other and the way we want to do things and communicating will be important, so hopefully we can start off well if we go to that type of setup.”
Along with generating (and converting on) scoring chances, the Hawks have to figure out how to leave their defensive zone. This was a problem even with Bedard last season, and one that has plagued Blashill’s early tenure.
Clearing and gaining possession of the puck has been nearly impossible for Hawks defensemen and forwards. The result of this extended time in the zone has been multiple shots by opponents.
In Salt Lake City on Oct. 1, the Mammoth had 65 shot attempts, 32 of them on goal. On Saturday against the Hurricanes, the defending champs had 72 shot attempts, 39 of them on goal. Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom have tried their best to seal the leaks, but the dam has overflowed early on.
Is it a toughness issue? Lack of experience? Blashill explained his view of the Hawks’ defensive zone struggles after the 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
“We have to figure out how to be a little bit quicker with those decisions and harder when it’s time to be hard, that’s probably the No. 1 thing,” Blashill said. “When you’re ready to make a hard play, you make it hard. When there’s time, you make the nice, good, poised plays.”
The Hawks would’ve liked a better start to the year, but this is also a six-game sample size in an 84-game season. It’s been an aggressive gauntlet so far, with the Hawks facing the two Stanley Cup finalists already.
And the Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks and other teams will say the same thing — the game’s much harder without your best player. Bedard’s presence won’t fix everything, but it will help a lot.
In other words, no one’s panicking yet.
“Obviously, the results haven’t been there, but there’s been positives,” Bedard said. “We feel like we’re a great team and we’re excited to show that in the coming weeks, starting (Tuesday).”