The Chicago Blackhawks have confirmed that their star centre, Connor Bedard, underwent surgery on his injured left shoulder and is expected to be sidelined for around four months. As the former first-overall pick and the franchise's centrepiece, his absence is a significant setback for a team hoping to rebuild towards regular playoff contention, and it means he is unlikely to feature until roughly November.

Bedard was hurt while training in Vancouver, with footage circulating that showed him falling during a drill and leaving the ice in discomfort. He is expected to make a full recovery, but the timing forces Chicago to navigate a difficult early stretch in the competitive Central Division — alongside sides such as the Avalanche, Stars, Wild, Mammoth and Jets — without him. The injury adds to Bedard's record of setbacks, following a right-shoulder problem last season and a broken jaw during his 2024-25 rookie campaign.