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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.
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'll miss about a month.
This is the third major injury of Bedard's young career. He injured his shoulder last season during a last-second faceoff on Dec. 12 and missed 12 games before returning. He also suffered a broken jaw during the 2023-24 season and missed 14 games his rookie season.
Bedard is a restricted free agent and will need a new contract before the start of the 2026-27 NHL season.
More: NHL free agency winners, losers: Blackhawks' big extension raises eyebrows
The full schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season will be announced on July 16. The season typically begins in early October.
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.
NHL draft tracker: Scouting reports on all 32 first round picks
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blackhawks star Connor Bedard out four months after shoulder injury
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Video last week showed Bedard leaving the ice grabbing his shoulder after he was hurt while practicing with other players in Vancouver.
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'll miss about a month.
This is the third major injury of Bedard's young career. He injured his shoulder last season during a last-second faceoff on Dec. 12 and missed 12 games before returning. He also suffered a broken jaw during the 2023-24 season and missed 14 games his rookie season.
Bedard is a restricted free agent and will need a new contract before the start of the 2026-27 NHL season.
More: NHL free agency winners, losers: Blackhawks' big extension raises eyebrows
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.
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.
NHL draft tracker: Scouting reports on all 32 first round picks
NHL key dates 2026-27
- July 15: Opening day announced
- 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: Blackhawks star Connor Bedard out four months after shoulder injury
Continue reading...
