Connor Bedard Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Set to Miss Start of Blackhawks Season

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. Team physician Michael Terry indicated that Bedard is expected to make a full recovery within approximately four months. While the NHL has yet to announce its regular-season schedule, the Blackhawks kicked off their previous season on October 7.

The injury occurred while Bedard was skating with a group of NHL players in his hometown of Vancouver, marking a significant setback for a Blackhawks team looking to rebound from a challenging rebuilding phase. Bedard, who turns 21 on July 17, had a standout third NHL season, recording career highs with 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games. However, he also faced challenges last year, missing 12 games due to a right shoulder injury sustained during a faceoff in a 3-2 loss to St. Louis on December 12.

General manager Kyle Davidson acknowledged Bedard’s critical role within the team, stating in April, “He’s so important to our team. He took such a big step forward this year in every facet.” As a restricted free agent, the impact of this injury on Bedard’s contract negotiations remains uncertain, especially considering he missed nearly six weeks of his rookie season due to a broken jaw.

Last season, the Blackhawks finished with a 29-39-14 record, an 11-point improvement from the previous year but still far from playoff contention. The team has struggled in recent years, finishing No. 31 in the NHL for three consecutive seasons and failing to reach the postseason since the league adopted an expanded playoff format following the 2020 season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bedard has been the focal point for the Blackhawks since being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He made his highly anticipated NHL debut that October and went on to win the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year, tallying 23 goals and 44 assists while playing in all 82 games during his second season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.