Overview
- The 20-year-old center was cleared to play Friday against Washington after a separated right shoulder suffered on Dec. 12 in St. Louis.
- Bedard leads Chicago with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games despite the month-long absence.
- The Blackhawks went 5-6-1 without him but arrive on a season-high four-game winning streak, including a 3-2 shootout win over the Capitals six days ago.
- To activate Bedard from injured reserve, Chicago assigned defenseman Ethan Del Mastro to AHL Rockford.
- Nick Foligno, Ilya Mikheyev, goalie Arvid Soderblom, and coach Jeff Blashill missed the morning skate due to illness, and Bedard remains a potential injury-replacement candidate for Team Canada’s Olympic roster.