Breaking: Connor Bedard To Make Early Surprise Return To Lineup

After a morning conferring with doctors, the Chicago Blackhawks have given the green light to rookie sensation Connor Bedard to return to the lineup tonight, well ahead of schedule.

With rumors hitting the rounds all day and folks wondering if we'd actually see Bedard about a week ahead of schedule on Thursday night, the team's social media account dropped us a big hint this afternoon, with a hype video of their rookie extraordinaire.

Well, I guess there's our answer... https://t.co/2eSKZZy13O

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 15, 2024

Bedard will be back on the ice as the Hawks host the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it will surely be a sight for sore eyes in Chicago, as the team has gone 3-10-1 in Bedard's absence, including a current 7-game winless streak that has seen them score a measly eight total goals over that stretch. The 18-year-old phenom, in fact, still leads the team in scoring, despite missing the last 14 games.

Bedard has 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in his first 39 NHL games, while playing 19 minutes a night.

The most recent No. 1 selection in the NHL Draft, and the biggest hyped rookie since Connor McDavid, Bedard had surgery on a broken jaw back on Jan 8th, and was said at that time to be out six-to-eight weeks. Now, just five+ weeks later, he's ready to go. Great news for the Blackhawks, and for hockey fans in general.

Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports