Depleted Chicago remains without top rookie Connor Bedard and other forwards, but its blueline corps will be intact for the first time in months against the Stars. Updated with videos.

Blackhawks No. 1 defenseman Seth Jones will return from a shoulder injury on Saturday when Chicago hosts the Dallas Stars.

Jones, who leads Chicago and is fourth in the NHL with 25:25 of ice time per game, practiced again with full contact at the team's training facility on Friday.

Coach Luke Richardson said Jones, who has missed 15 games, will be paired with rookie Alex Vlasic. Veteran Jarred Tinordi will sit out.

"That will be a good help for Seth," Richardson said. "Seth is just getting back in there and they've played well together earlier in the season. Two big rangy guys that can move the puck."

Jones was injured late in a 4-2 home loss to Washington on Dec. 10. The 6-foot-4, 29-year-old hasn't scored this year on 60 shots on goal, but has 11 assists.

Vlasic, a 6-foot-6, 22-year-old rookie, is second on Chicago with 20:38 of ice time per game. He has one goal and 10 points in 36 games and and leads the Blackhawks with a plus-9 ranking. Entering Saturday, Chicago had allowed 56 more goals than it had scored.

Jones is in the second year of an eight-year contact extension that pays $9.5 annually.

The defenseman was injured on a hit by the Capitals Nicolas Aubé-Kubel that knocked him off the puck in the corner of the Chicago zone. It lead to Washington's fourth goal and the big D-man left the ice slowly after the play.

Jones said he expected to be out only two weeks. But a further diagnosis determined he had to avoid contact for four weeks.

The defenseman has been keeping close tabs on his teammates. While the Blackhawks' play has been more cohesive and tighter for the past several games, Jones noted the team needs to buckle down every shift. A couple of slip-ups cost Chicago in a 2-1 loss at Winnipeg on Thursday when the Jets overcame a 1-0 Blackhawks lead with goals in the final 3:29. See video

Still out for Chicago are forwards Bedard (broken jaw), Nick Foligno (broken finger) Tyler Johnson (right foot), Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist) and Andreas Athanasiou (groin). Winger Taylor Hall was lost for the season after right ACL surgery in November.