When ready, Bedard is expected to be the No. 1 center with left wing Roman Kantserov and right wing Patrick Kane.
"We've got skate in the morning, but certainly trending toward looking like he's got the possibility of playing," Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said Monday.
The 21-year-old said Sunday he'll be able to take face-offs right away. Bedard didn't immediately take face-offs last season after he missed 12 games with a right shoulder injury sustained in a last-second face-off against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 10, 2025. He came back from that injury against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 9 but didn't take face-offs in a game until Feb. 26 against the Nashville Predators. He went 8-for-16.
The No. 1 pick by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard has 203 points (75 goals, 128 assists) in 219 games with them. He has led them in points in each of his first three NHL seasons, including last season when he had NHL career highs in points (75), goals (30) and assists (45).
He won the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the League's top rookie, in 2023-24.
Bedard was named Blackhawks captain Sept. 15, becoming the second youngest captain in team history behind Jonathan Toews (20 years, 79 days), who served in that role from 2008-23.
"I feel like myself, shooting the puck, everything," he said Sunday. "You want to play. I wanted to play Game 1 but obviously you want to be safe as well. (I'm) working with a lot of great people, coming in every day and grinding, trying to get it back as soon as possible.
"Once they feel like it's in a good spot, then I'll be back out there."
Chicago has lost five of its first six games this season (1-5-0).
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
