Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard undergoes shoulder surgery, out for 4 months

It’s the middle of summer, which means there isn’t a ton of NHL news to sift through, but there is some, and in the case of the Chicago Blackhawks, it’s pretty bad.

That’s because the team just learned that their franchise centerpiece, Connor Bedard, will be out of action for four months after getting injured while training.

That means he won’t return to the team’s lineup until November.

NHL TEAM’S TOUGH SEASON GETS WORSE AS FRANCHISE LEGEND LEFT TO TRAIN FOR ARCHRIVAL

Bedard was training in Vancouver last week when videos began circulating showing him falling during a drill and walking off the ice in clear discomfort.

Well, that discomfort was real, and on Wednesday the Blackhawks announced that the former first overall pick had undergone surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery.

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The only problem is that it will force him to miss some action early next season.

Now, the Blackhawks will be happy to have him back about a month into the season instead of losing him four months into the regular season, but that will make Chicago’s start to the season critical.

They play in a tough Central Division and have to keep up with the likely playoff teams in it (squads like the Avalanche, Stars, Wild, Mammoth and maybe Jets) so they don’t have to dig themselves out of a hole when Bedard returns to action.

Bedard suffered an injury to his other shoulder last season. (David Gonzales-Imagn Images)

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Bedard is no stranger to injuries. He battled a right shoulder injury last season, and in his rookie campaign in 2024-25, he suffered a broken jaw.

When healthy, he has averaged just under a point per game, which is something the Blackhawks will need as they continue to work toward becoming perennial playoff contenders again.