Connor Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday morning, and the Chicago Blackhawks said the star center will miss at least the first month of the 2026-27 season.
The injury happened last Thursday during an on-ice training session in Burnaby, B.C., and the team projected a return in early to mid-November. With the season scheduled to begin in late September, Bedard is now expected to be sidelined for at least about a month to open the year.
What this means for Chicago
The absence is a significant early-season setback for the Blackhawks, who are trying to move forward in a lengthy rebuild. Bedard was the team's leading scorer last season with 75 points in 69 games, so Chicago will have to find offense without its top producer right away.
The Blackhawks did add more depth this offseason, including Bowen Byram in a trade involving the 2026 No. 4 draft pick, but there is no real way to replace Bedard's role on the roster. Frank Nazar is among the players who could see a larger opportunity while Bedard recovers, and the team will need others to help carry the load in his absence.
Bedard's recovery timeline
Michael Terry said the expectation is for a full recovery in an approximate timeline of four months. That lines up with the Blackhawks' estimate that Bedard could return in early to mid-November, though the exact date will depend on how his recovery progresses.
Bedard, who is 20 years old and turns 21 on July 17, had also missed about a month last season with an injury to his other shoulder. For Chicago, the key now is getting him healthy for the long haul rather than rushing him back for the start of the season.
