Blackhawks Taylor Hall, "miracle healer," back on ice Friday

The veteran left winger on Connor Bedard's line may be out day-to-day rather than week-to-week as first feared. See lineups for Bedard's debut on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night against the Canadiens in Montréal.

Taylor Hall told Chicago Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson he was a "miracle healer" after the 31-year-old forward skated on his own on Friday, two days being knocked out of a game in Boston by a nasty blindside hit.

Richardson first thought Hall would be out "week to"week" with an upper-body injury after absorbing a punishing smash from Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo. But the 31-year-old Hall, who had started the season on the left side of a line with rookie Connor Bedard, was on the ice following the team's practice on Friday in Brossard, Québec, a suburb on Montréal's South Shore.

“He told us he was a miracle fast healer," Richardson said. "I didn't know what that meant, but surprised to see him on the ice this early. He said he feels better. We just want to let him settle down for a day or two and see how that looks tomorrow."

Hall will not play on Saturday in Montréal against the Canadiens as Bedard makes his debut on Hockey Night in Canada.

Hall was acquired along with Nick Foligno in a trade from Boston on June 26, two days before the Blackhawks made Bedard the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft. He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP in 2017-18 skating on a line with 2017 top draft pick Nico Hischier for the New Jersey Devils. Hall was a No. 1 pick himself, selected by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010.

Taylor Raddysh took Hall's spot on the top line with Bedard and right winger Ryan Donato in practice on Friday. Lukas Reichel will step into Hall's role with Bedard on the first power-play unit. 

Bedard was mobbed by media after the practice.