Connor Bedard happy with new deal, Blackhawks’ additions but would love to see Patrick Kane return

Newly re-signed Blackhawks star Connor Bedard spent much of his meeting Monday with reporters raving about the team’s camaraderie and offseason additions.

But there is one more addition potentially coming: Patrick Kane, whom Chris Chelios said last week is deciding between the Hawks and Sabres.

And when he was asked about that possibility, Bedard’s eyes gleamed.

‘‘I can’t imagine [Kane’s] first game back at the [United Center], the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans, as well,’’ Bedard said. ‘‘That would be incredible to play with him and learn from him.

‘‘You [can] talk about the legacy aspect of it, but . . . he would make us a way better team. He’s still an amazing player. I don’t know if this is the best pitch, but hopefully he comes back and we can play together.’’

The Sabres would give Kane a better chance to make a playoff run, but the Hawks would give him a bigger role, likely alongside Bedard — once Bedard recovers from his shoulder surgery, that is.

Kane is taking his time to make a decision, which means the Hawks only can daydream about it for now.

Bedard, meanwhile, seemed to be in a good mood, thanks to the $9.8 million signing bonus hitting his bank account and the sunny morning in Vancouver unfolding behind him, which overshadowed the discomfort in his left shoulder.

‘‘I’m very happy with the amount of money I’m making; it’s a lot,’’ a chuckling Bedard said before reiterating he didn’t consider Ducks star Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet comparable to his situation.

‘‘Like I’ve said so much — and it’s not anything fake — Chicago is really the only place I want to play. [That comes from] seeing the growth of our young guys and just how good of a group we are in the room, how tight it is, how much fun we have. I’m very happy to get this deal signed and just focus on the team.’’

Bedard described the negotiation process as not stressful, certainly less so than his decision to have surgery after his ‘‘frustrating’’ and fluky shoulder injury July 2.

‘‘It’s a terrible part of the game,’’ he said. ‘‘But for me, to have this next little bit and go through that adversity and try to get stronger mentally, that’s how I’m looking at it. And then [when I] come back . . . [I’m] not going to be scared.”

Bedard said he still plans to spend most of the rest of the offseason in Vancouver with his family and ‘‘a good team of people that the staff in Chicago feels comfortable with.’’ Right now, his days are filled with physiotherapy sessions and workouts designed ‘‘to get this thing back to 100% as quick as possible.’’

Come training camp — which should start around Sept. 16 — he will join the Hawks in Chicago. He thinks he might be cleared to skate individually by then.

‘‘We want to take a big step this year,’’ Bedard said. ‘‘We want to be a playoff team, and that’s our only goal.’’

Bedard’s belief in the Hawks’ direction is steadfast, as agent Don Meehan emphasized this past weekend. General manager Kyle Davidson’s moves this summer excited him.

‘‘[Bowen Byram is] going to be one of the best ‘D’-men in the league,’’ Bedard said. ‘‘When you play behind Cale [Makar] and [Rasmus] Dahlin, it’s not easy to take their spots. [It’s big] for him to get that opportunity to be that No. 1 and prove himself in that way, and he’s going to do it. He’s one of the most skilled players in the league. His motivation to prove that is unbelievable.’’

Bedard also went out of his way to mention Jordan Greenway, Ian Cole and Cole Smith.

‘‘I think Ian Cole probably landed the most cross-checks on me out of anyone else in my life,’’ Bedard said. ‘‘But now he’s my teammate, and we’re both going to go to war for each other, which is the beautiful thing about hockey.’’