The five weeks Connor Bedard has missed so far due to his broken jaw have felt more like five months for the goal-starved Blackhawks, for fans of the teenage star and surely for Bedard himself, too.
But his absence is nearly over. The Hawks expect the 18-year-old forward to return to action next week, coach Luke Richardson said Monday.
Richardson joked it would be difficult for Bedard to get to North Carolina from his doctor’s appointment in Chicago within a matter of hours next Monday when the Hawks visit the Hurricanes. That day will mark exactly six weeks since his surgery, after which he was given a six-to-eight week estimated recovery timeline.
So it seems likely that Bedard’s return to the lineup will happen instead at the United Center either Feb. 21 against the Flyers or Feb. 23 against the Jets. He’ll have to wear a face shield to protect his jaw that night and for a while afterward.
That means he’ll also be active Feb. 25 against the Red Wings, a game the business department absolutely did not want him to miss. That could be the Hawks’ biggest game of the season thanks to Chris Chelios’ jersey retirement ceremony and Patrick Kane’s return.
“In the beginning, his first time probably going through this process, he just wanted to play,” Richardson said. “That was just hard for him to accept at the beginning. But he’s been great lately. He has calmed down and realized he’s got to go through this process.
“I just explained to him the other day, [while] skating with him a bit, that this time of the year, it’s hard to come back from injuries because . . . teams are getting into full swing in that middle part of the season. For a young guy that hasn’t even gone through a full NHL season, he hasn’t even realized that. So I just told him to keep [that] in mind when he’s watching the games. Watch for that and realize that, so when you come back, you’re ready for it.”
Since going down Jan. 5 in New Jersey after a big hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith, Bedard has been progressing steadily. He resumed skating individually Jan. 15 and has eased gradually into taking slap shots and participating in non-contact drills during team practices — based on clearances received during his weekly Monday checkups. His appointment this Monday was canceled, however.
“They thought it was useless to take another image with radiation,” Richardson added. “Why bother? Everything was on pace.”
The Hawks should benefit enormously from Bedard’s return, as they have tightened up defensively but proven completely inept offensively during his absence. They’ve scored only 20 goals in the 14 games he has missed so far, going 3-10-1. They just don’t employ any other forwards with his high-end finishing ability — a fact made even more evident by how many scoring chances they’ve squandered in recent weeks.
And although the Hawks’ win-loss record the rest of this season won’t mean much — in fact, the best outcome might be losing enough to finish last in the NHL standings and guaranteeing a top-three draft pick — Bedard’s development means a lot long term. The faster he returns, the more development and experience he’ll bank before the offseason.
With 33 points in 39 games, Bedard still holds a slight lead in the NHL’s rookie scoring race over Wild defenseman Brock Faber (who touts 31 points in 51 games entering Monday). He’ll have a good chance to lock up the Calder Trophy title with a strong finish.
Note: Hawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi is day-to-day with a groin strain. He missed Friday’s game and Monday’s practice and likely will sit out again Tuesday against the Canucks.
