Connor Bedard's status takes an unexpected turn ahead of Blackhawks-Penguins game

The Chicago Blackhawks are about to get their captain back.

Bedard is set to return when Chicago hosts Pittsburgh at the United Center, with puck drop at 7 p.m. CT.

Coach Jeff Blashill said he is in the lineup, as long as the doctors give the final okay after morning skate.

That is a huge swing from the original plan.

Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder after getting hurt during an offseason skate in July, and the recovery window was four months, which pointed to early or mid November.

Instead, he has missed just six games.

Chicago has stumbled out of the gate at 1-5-0, and the power play is just 1-for-14 without its best player.

Bedard is expected to slide onto the top line and the first power-play unit.

That also lets Patrick Kane move back to his natural spot on the right side, which should give the group far more room to operate.

Young forward Anton Frondell gets bumped down to the second unit because of the shuffle, and Nick Lardis looks like the healthy scratch based on how the team practiced.

Blashill believes Bedard is ready both physically and mentally, but he has been honest that some parts of the game will take time and reps to feel normal again.

Bedard himself said over the weekend that he feels like himself again, especially when it comes to shooting the puck.

There is also the matchup. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins come to town, and the 21-year-old center gets a big stage for his first game back.

Keep an eye on warmups tonight for the last bit of confirmation, because nothing is official until the medical staff signs off.

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