What happened: The Chicago Blackhawks activated forward Connor Bedard from injured non-roster. The move makes him eligible to play after missing the start of the season while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

Why it matters: Bedard centers Chicago's top unit as the 37th captain in team history. He signed a five-year, $75 million extension in July, cementing him as the core of the rebuild.

What to watch: The next step is game deployment and how Chicago rebuilds its lines around his return.