Connor Bedard Skips IIHF World Championships for Rehab

connor bedard will not play for Canada at the IIHF World Championships and will spend the summer rehabbing the shoulder issue that interrupted his 2025-26 season. The Chicago Blackhawks center was advised to stay back so he can be 100 percent healthy by training camp.

Bedard’s Summer Plan

Friday brought the decision that ends any hope of seeing Bedard in Switzerland this month. He wanted to go badly, but his summer will not include the tournament.

That choice keeps his focus on the shoulder problem he sustained in early December, when he also missed time. Bedard had his first breakout season in 2025-26, scoring 30 goals and finishing over a point per game.

Blackhawks In Switzerland

The Blackhawks will still have two players in the field for World Championships play. Anton Frondell and Oliver Moore will represent Chicago in Switzerland, while Team Canada moves forward without its center.

Canada will also have Macklin Celebrini and Gavin McKenna on its roster. Their presence gives the lineup more young skill, but it also leaves Bedard watching from home while he protects the shoulder that shaped his season and his summer.

What Comes Next For Bedard

Bedard is now a pending restricted free agent, and the offseason still includes work on a contract extension. The bigger target is clearer: arrive at training camp healthy, then carry the form he showed across 82 games into the 2026-27 season.