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Blackhawks Center Connor Bedard Has Shoulder Surgery, Expected to Miss First Month of 2026-27 Season
Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard underwent left shoulder surgery on July 8, 2026, after an injury during training. He is expected to miss at least the first month of the 2026-27 NHL season with a four-month recovery timeline.
Jul 8, 4:57 PM·1m read2 sources
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Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 8, 2026. ESPN reported that the team announced he is expected to make a full recovery in approximately four months. The injury occurred during a training session with Kaivo Hockey in Vancouver on July 2.
Video showed Bedard losing an edge and crashing into the boards before leaving the ice favoring his left shoulder. The surgery took place the morning after the previous Thursday's session in Burnaby, B.C. Bedard, who turns 21 on July 17, will miss at least the first month of the 2026-27 season.
That campaign marks the NHL's first 84-game schedule under the new collective bargaining agreement, with the regular season opening in late September. In the 2025-26 season Bedard led the Blackhawks with 75 points in 69 games and scored 30 goals. Over his career through that season he recorded 203 points in 219 games.
Chicago finished 29-39-14. Bedard is a restricted free agent who completed the final year of his entry-level contract. General manager Kyle Davidson has stated he will not comment on contract talks until a deal is reached.
Those discussions occur against the backdrop of an $18 million average annual value offer sheet signed by Anaheim Ducks restricted free agent Leo Carlsson with the Philadelphia Flyers.
