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.
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The 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.
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As 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
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.
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His 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.
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NHL key dates 2026-27
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July 15: Opening day announced for 2026-27 season
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July 16: Full 2026-27 season schedule announced
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July 20: Arbitration hearings begin
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September: Training camps open
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October: 2026-27 NHL season begins
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December 18-20: 2026 NHL Global Series Germany (Blackhawks vs. Senators in Dusseldorf)
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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
