Bedard could return next week for Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- Connor Bedard could return next week from a fractured jaw, Chicago Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Monday.

The 18-year-old center, who was injured Jan. 5, continues to skate and participate in some non-contact drills in practice. Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is tied with Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber for the League lead among rookies with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 39 games this season; Faber has played 52 games. Wild forward Marco Rossi is third (29 points; 14 goals, 15 assists in 52 games).

“We’re hoping after that six-week mark (after surgery), so that will be a week from today, I guess,” Richardson said.

Bedard was injured on a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith in the first period of a 4-2 loss at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. He left the ice with his hand at his mouth.

Bedard had surgery three days later, and Feb. 19 will mark six weeks of post-surgery recovery. His original timeline was 6-8 weeks.

Richardson didn’t pinpoint which game Bedard could return in. The Blackhawks visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 19 before a three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers (Feb. 21), Winnipeg Jets (Feb. 23) and Detroit Red Wings (Feb. 25).

Bedard has had weekly doctor visits each Monday, but Richardson said he did not have one this week.

“I think they just thought everything was on course, so I think maybe later in the week or early next week is probably when they’re targeting for hopefully the last one,” he said. “They just said it was useless to take another image with radiation. Everything was on pace and looks to be on the same timeline that they thought.”

Bedard began skating on his own Jan. 15, just 10 days after the injury, wearing a full-face shield and a green non-contact jersey. He started participating in non-contact portions of practice Tuesday. Richardson said Bedard will be wearing the face shield “for a while, for sure.”

“I don’t know how long, but I think until he feels comfortable and the doctors feel comfortable that no big impact, like an errant puck or that [could do more damage] … he doesn’t need anything like that for sure,” Richardson said.

Bedard was selected to the 2024 Honda (U.S.)/Rogers (Canada) NHL All-Star Game in Toronto on Feb. 3. He was unavailable to play but attended the festivities and was a special guest passer at the NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook at Scotiabank Arena the night before.

He was also at Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs, on Wednesday to help announce that the Blackhawks would play the St. Louis Blues there in the 2025 Discover NHL Winter Classic. Bedard said that day he was ready to be part of a full practice.

“I mean I feel good and ready, but obviously there’s a process of it,” he said. “Obviously anyone who’s hurt would say it’s frustrating, but trying to do as much as I can and be prepared when I’m back.”

Bedard said being able to skate this long has provided a boost for his recovery.

“No injury is good, but I think you want to try to be as positive as you can,” he said. “I say that to you, but there’ve been some times when I’ve been upset, of course. But a week after (the injury), I was back on the ice. That’s a positive for sure.”