Connor Bedard suffered an apparent right shoulder injury in his latest game for the Chicago Blackhawks.
What happened
In the final seconds of a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues, Bedard was taking a defensive-zone faceoff when contact during the draw caused him to fall backward and grab at his right shoulder. He left the ice in visible pain and went straight down the tunnel to the locker room.
Current status
Chicago’s coach Jeff Blashill has ruled Bedard out for the next game against the Detroit Red Wings and called the play a “freak accident.” The team has said more information on the extent of the shoulder injury and a timeline for return is expected after further evaluation on Monday.
How he was playing
Before the injury, Bedard had two assists in that game and was leading the Blackhawks with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games, putting him among the NHL’s top scorers this season. This was the best start of his career so far, after winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2023–24.
