The NHL's leading rookie scorer has been ramping up the best he can. He'll see docs again on Monday, coach Luke Richardson says. Story with videos.
Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard, out with a broken jaw for the last five weeks, is due for another medical check-up on Monday, coach Luke Richardson said.
No matter how much depleted, offense-starved Chicago could use Bedard — and how badly the 18-year-old wants to return — he won't until doctors say it's OK. The Blackhawks had scored just 11 goals in their last 11 games entering Friday's contest against the New York Rangers.
But both scans and physicians will determine when the NHL's top 2023 draft pick can absorb NHL contact and exert himself fully, even wearing a full polycarbonate face shield.
Monday Appointment
The NHL allowed Bedard to be a guest-passer at the All-Star skills competition in Toronto."It'll be next Monday and then we'll go from there," Richardson said. "I think he's pretty much the same six (to) eight weeks (recovery projection). And I think it's not probably going to be before six weeks as much as he wants it to be."
Bedard was injured late in the first period of Jan. 5 game on an open ice hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith in New Jersey. The rookie underwent surgery to set his jaw a few days later in Chicago.
Bedard still leads NHL rookies in goals (15) and points (33) entering Friday, despite missing 11+ games. Minnesota's Marco Rossi was second in goals at 13 and Wild defenseman Brock Faber was No. 2 in points with 30. Both had played 50 games.
Bedard, wearing a green no-contact jersey, has worked up his skating and shooting, including one-timers. He's been skating before and after practice, then darting in and out of select drills.
"But you know he's out and he's progressing in practice other than contact drills," Richardson said "So he's out there still having fun with the guys. He starting to have a smile on his face and feeling back to normal." See Richardson in the following video.
Once Bedard is cleared for contact, Richardson expects him to go through several full practices before skating in a game.
"(We want) to get him used to the, you know, looking for contact and avoiding contact and bracing for it and being ready for it," Richardson said. "Just like anybody that's been out with an injury, that's going to need some contact in practice."