Something has been missing for the Chicago Blackhawks during their miserable start to the 2026-27 NHL season — but that is no longer the case with their captain and best player back in the fold.

Connor Bedard shook off the rust and recorded a power-play assist in his season debut Tuesday night, helping the Hawks beat the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 at United Center.

The franchise cornerstone returned to his spot as the top-line center, with Patrick Kane and Roman Kantserov on his wings. Kane also added an assist, while Kantserov scored twice in the triumph.

“Yeah, a lot. A lot,” Bedard told reporters when asked if he missed playing hockey, per NHL.com's Tracey Myers. “Just the camaraderie, the energy in the building, everything. It’s all you want to do, you know? It’s what I live for.”

The Blackhawks are a different team with Bedard on the ice, and his return provided an immediate boost. The 21-year-old logged 21:06 of ice time, the most among Chicago forwards, and went 6-for-14 on faceoffs. He also directed three shots on Penguins netminder Sergei Murashov.

He figures to keep improving as he gets more comfortable after undergoing left shoulder surgery in July. Bedard was expected to be out until November but ended up missing only six games.

“(It all) felt good,” Bedard added. “Like I said before, if I didn’t feel normal I wouldn’t be playing. It all felt good and didn’t find myself thinking about it, really. That’s all you can ask for.”

The Hawks are going to need Bedard at full strength if they hope to emerge from their rebuild and compete for a postseason spot in the Western Conference this season.

It had been a brutal start without the captain, with Chicago entering Tuesday's contest at 1-5-0. The victory improved that mark to 2-5-0 and gave the club something to build on.

Bedard's importance cannot be overstated, and having him healthy and in form is critical for this team. He amassed 75 points in 69 games in 2025-26 in his third NHL season.

He might need to be even better this year for the Hawks to compete in a crowded Central Division. So far, so good.

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“He looked great. Looked like he was skating well, looked like he was making plays,” said Kane, who won three Stanley Cups in the Windy City in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

“He had some really good chances, nice passes. I thought it was a great night for him.”

It was an encouraging night by all accounts for the Hawks, who took a step toward getting back on track after a miserable opening stretch. With Bedard back alongside Kane and Kantserov, Chicago will look to turn Tuesday's performance into sustained momentum.

Chicago continues a six-game homestand on Thursday night, with the 4-1-1 Winnipeg Jets visiting United Center.