Blackhawks' Connor Bedard to Miss Significant Time After Brutal Injury

The 2026 NHL season hasn't started yet and the Chicago Blackhawks are already at a disadvantage.

Chicago learned on Wednesday that star center Connor Bedard will miss at least four months after having surgery on the shoulder he injured during a recent skating event with Kaivo Hockey in Vancouver.

The news means Bedard will miss the first month of the season and part of the second. If Bedard returns four months to the day, he would miss the first 15 or so games of the season.

The 20-year-old former No. 1 overall pick had a career year last season, tallying 30 goals and 75 points across 69 games.

Bedard is a restricted free agent and is due a substantial raise from his entry-level salary. He and the Blackhawks are currently in contract negotiations, and reports indicate the team is willing to pay him close to $14 million per season.

Chicago's center depth behind Bedard leaves much to be desired.

Ryan Donato (15 goals, 30 points in 82 games in 2025), Frank Nazar (15 goals, 41 points in 66 games), and Oliver Moore (five goals, 19 points in 51 games) are all solid middle-six players, but none are top-line center caliber players.

The Blackhawks could call up top prospects Anton Frondell or Sacha Boisvert to bolster their center depth until Bedard returns.

Frondell, the third overall pick in 2025, logged 20 goals and 28 points in 43 games on loan to Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Hockey League. He totaled three goals and nine points in 12 games in the NHL last season.

Boisvert, the 18th overall pick in 2024, tallied three goals and 17 points in 6 NCAA games at Boston College last season. His offensive output was more prolific the year before when he logged 18 goals and 32 points across 37 games at the University of North Dakota.

The 20-year-old Boisvert scored one goal and two points in seven appearances in the NHL last season.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 8:47 PM.