Connor Bedard to miss Chicago Blackhawks season start after shoulder surgery

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard underwent successful surgery to repair his left shoulder on July 8, 2026, after injuring the joint during an off‑season skating session in Vancouver on July 2. Team physician Michael Terry said the recovery is expected to take about four months, meaning Bedard will miss training camp and the opening weeks of the 2026‑27 NHL season, likely returning in early November.

The 20‑year‑old, the franchise’s offensive cornerstone and a restricted free agent, posted career highs last season with 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games. His absence comes as Chicago, still in a rebuilding phase, has added depth with signings such as Bowen Byram, Ian Cole and Cole Smith. The injury may also influence pending contract negotiations, especially after a high‑profile offer sheet was signed with fellow 2023 draftee Leo Carlsson.

Bedard’s injury adds to a history of setbacks, including a fractured jaw in his rookie year and a right‑shoulder injury that sidelined him for 12 games in the 2025‑26 season. The Blackhawks finished the 2025‑26 campaign 29‑39‑14, third straight year at the bottom of the league, and have not reached the playoffs since the expanded format was introduced in 2020.