Blackhawks' Connor Bedard (jaw) back on ice amid recovery - ESPN

Connor Bedard is back — to skating, at least.

The Chicago Blackhawks rookie returned to the ice on Monday just 10 days after fracturing his jaw in a collision with New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith and seven days post-surgery.

Bedard — the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft — sported a full cage and no-contact sweater for the session with Chicago's other injured players Nick Foligno and Sam Savoie. The original timeline for Bedard's return to game action was set at six to eight weeks.

Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Monday there is «no change» at the moment to Bedard's timeline for return but added that the rookie was «eager» to get out there anyway.

«He's been begging,» Richardson said. «They [the doctors] said it was OK, but he was given specific instructions. He's not allowed to take slapshots; so, he's not allowed to really clench [the jaw]. If they see that, they might pull the rug out from under him… it's just good for him to get moving. He just has to be careful with the early stages of clenching.»

Richardson clarified Bedard's jaw isn't completely wired shut at this stage but has elastic bands in place to ensure it heals properly.

The fact that Bedard wasted no time jumping back into the fray didn't surprise his teammates.

«I didn't even know he was going to skate today,» fellow rookie Kevin Korchinski said. «But he's itching to get back. It's probably the longest break he's had off hockey for a while.»

Even Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson acknowledged earlier this month that Bedard, 18, would be hard to keep on the sideline for long.

«I'm sure he'll be pushing the envelope,» Davidson told reporters last week. «But I think he also understands it's not something to mess with. He doesn't want