Categories
Blackhawks star Connor Bedard out four months after shoulder injury
Connor Bedard injury update: Blackhawks star has shoulder surgery
Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday, July 8, and will be out for four months, the team announced.
Video last week showed Bedard leaving the ice grabbing his shoulder after he was hurt while practicing with other players in Vancouver.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe four-month timeline will keep Bedard out of the lineup until early November. The starting date for the 2026-27 season won't be announced until next week, but he will likely miss a month or more.
Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft, is a restricted free agent and will need a new contract before the start of the 2026-27 NHL season.
Connor Bedard injury history
This is the third major injury of Bedard's young career.
The 20-year-old injured his right shoulder last season during a last-second faceoff on Dec. 12 and missed 12 games before returning. He also missed another game that season with injury.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs a rookie, Bedard suffered a broken jaw during the 2023-24 season and missed 14 games.
More: NHL free agency winners, losers: Blackhawks' big extension raises eyebrows
Forward Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he will join brother Matthews.
(James Guillory, Imagn Images)Forward Pavel Dorofeyev was traded to the New York Rangers.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)Defenseman Darnell Nurse was traded to the San Jose Sharks.
(David Gonzales, Imagn Images)Forward Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Utah Mammoth.
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)Forward JJ Peterka was traded to the Boston Bruins.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)Forward Mason McTavish was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)Mavrik Bourque was traded to the Nashville Predators.
(Steve Roberts, Imagn Images)Defenseman Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
(Timothy T. Ludwig, Imagn Images)Forward Alex Tuch joined the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade.
(Winslow Townson, Imagn Images)Forward Jordan Kyrou was traded to the Washington Capitals.
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)Goalie Jacob Markstrom was traded to the Florida Panthers.
(David Kirouac, Imagn Images)Forward Keegan Kolesar was traded to the Detroit Red Wings.
(James Guillory-Imagn Images)Defenseman Darren Raddysh joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal.
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)Forward Nick Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Keito Newman, IMAGN IMAGES)Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Dennis Schneidler, Imagn Images)Goaltender Frederik Andersen signed with the Edmonton Oilers.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)Forward Viktor Arvidsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings.
(Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)Forward Mason Marchment signed with the San Jose Sharks.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)Defenseman John Carlson was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)Forward Jack Roslovic signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Perry Nelson, Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
What does Connor Bedard injury mean for the Blackhawks?
The Blackhawks are 8-17-2 over three seasons when Bedard is out of the lineup, so him missing the first month is not a good sign for a team that finished second to last in the league last season. A slow start would be costly in the strong Central Division.
Bedard had 44 points in 31 games before last season's injury and had four points in the first eight games of his return before his production began picking up.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis 75 points were more than 35% of the Blackhawks' 210 goals.
Frank Nazar was the No. 2 center last season, so he could move up. The Blackhawks will also have Anton Frondell, the 2025 No. 3 overall pick, for a full season.
When does the 2026-27 NHL season begin?
The full schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season will be announced on July 16. The season typically begins in early October but could move earlier because the league is switching to an 84-game schedule.
Follow the NHL with USA TODAY
The NHL never rests, and USA TODAY is keeping tabs on the league all year long with reporters covering every team and transaction. Follow the news on our NHL hub. Get our USA TODAY Sports newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNHL draft tracker: Scouting reports on all 32 first round picks
NHL key dates 2026-27
July 15: Opening day announced for 2026-27 season
July 16: Full 2026-27 season schedule announced
July 20: Arbitration hearings begin
September: Training camps open
October: 2026-27 NHL season begins
December 18-20: 2026 NHL Global Series Germany (Blackhawks vs. Senators in Dusseldorf)
February 6: NHL All-Star Game at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connor Bedard injury update: Blackhawks star has shoulder surgery