Connor Bedard Return Nears as Blackhawks Flounder
The Connor Bedard return clock just went from slow burn to five-alarm sprint.
The Blackhawks captain practiced in full contact Sunday for the first time this season. And coach Jeff Blashill wouldn't rule him out of Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL.com).
Chicago is 1-5-0 and starving for good news.
Its franchise center hasn't suited up yet because of July shoulder surgery.
Both problems could start dissolving on the same night.
Connor Bedard return timeline beats the calendar
The original recovery timeline was four months, which pointed to an early November return (Chicago Tribune).
Forget that.
On October 11, Bedard wore a regular jersey, took real contact. And worked battle drills and 5-on-5 for the first time since the operation.
The tells were stacking up all week. He returned to practice October 5 in a black noncontact sweater, took faceoffs Saturday for the first time since surgery, then shed the sweater for contact one day later.
That's a ramp, not a plateau.
"There's no real official date or anything. But obviously a good step today, getting to practice with the team and feel contact and be in battle drills, 5-on-5, stuff like that," Bedard said (NHL.com).
No date, fine. When a guy goes from noncontact to full contact inside a week, the timeline is shouting for him.
How did Bedard injure his shoulder?
July 2, Vancouver, an offseason training session.
Bedard hurt his left shoulder, and surgery followed a few days later (NHL.com). One report dates the procedure to July 8 (CBS Sports).
Four months from that spot is early November, and for a while the plan held.
As recently as October 5, Blashill confirmed the captain still hadn't been cleared for contact and the timeline was unchanged (Yahoo Sports).
Two days later he was a partial participant in three straight practices, still in the non-contact jersey (Chicago Sun-Times).
"He's not cleared for contact. So on days where you can do some of the stuff we were doing today at the beginning, it's awesome to have him out there," Blashill said then (NHL.com).
Then Sunday happened, and awesome-to-have-him-out-there doesn't cover it anymore.
Why do the 1-5-0 Blackhawks need him?
The record is 1-5-0, five losses in six games, capped by Saturday's drubbing by the Carolina Hurricanes. Here's what makes the timing urgent: the next six games are all at the United Center (Chicago Tribune).
Last season the 21-year-old forward put up 30 goals, 75 points and 226 shots in 69 games in the final year of his entry-level contract (CBS Sports).
Chicago then paid him five years and $75 million.
That's who has been watching from the sideline.
One player doesn't erase five losses. But Sunday's line rushes told you the plan: Bedard back in his usual No. 1 center spot between Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane (NHL.com). A captain centering Kane for six straight home games is a different animal than the team Carolina just walked over.
Will Connor Bedard return Tuesday vs Pittsburgh?
Blashill didn't rule him out, and that matters (Chicago Tribune). The final say belongs to an upcoming doctor's appointment that will determine the return timetable.
"I mean, I don't want to say until I know more factual stuff from the (doctor's) appointment," Blashill said of the Tuesday possibility (NHL.com).
So the honest answer: contact Sunday, faceoffs Saturday, regular jersey, and a coach refusing to shut the door.
That's as close to a yes as anyone will give you before the doctor signs off.
A week ago, Bedard was in a black sweater and the calendar said November. Now Tuesday is live and six home games are waiting.
Watch the doctor's visit, then watch the lineup card Tuesday night: if the captain's name is on it, Chicago's season starts over.