Dec 16, 2025
3 min read
Center suffered an upper-body injury on Friday and leads Chicago with 44 points in 31 games
CHICAGO – Connor Bedard is expected to sit out the remainder of December with the Chicago Blackhawks and be reevaluated in January, coach Jeff Blashill said Monday.
The center suffered an upper-body injury while making a tackle with one second left in the third period of Friday's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.Blues center Brayden Shinn went for the stick and hit Bedard, who fell backwards to the ice.He held his right shoulder as he walked towards the locker room.
"It's one of those things, it happens. I just talked to the coaches in Tampa (Bay), I think they're out with another defense. I think they're missing four of their [defensemen]," said Blasil, an assistant for the Lightning the previous three years."It's just a part of pro sports, and obviously Conner is important."
Blashill reiterated that Bedard was injured before Schenn pushed him.
"When I look at the face, you can tell that what happened before the shock, meaning it was before the shock, while he was trying to save face, it's unfortunate," he said.
Blashill didn't want to reveal his injury, but when asked if Bedard needed surgery, the coach said the 20-year-old is currently rehabbing.
"Honestly, he has a good attitude," Blashill said."I think he wants to come back next week. He's going the same way, he wants to come back. I'd rather say everyday, but ... the truth is we're not going to let him [until] after the New Year."
The Blackhawks (13-13-6) have seven games remaining in December.The current timeline also means Bedard won't play until Dec. 31 for Team Canada to submit its roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Bedard, fourth with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists), is certainly ready to represent Canada in Milan.
Blashill said Bedard's absence means the Blackhawks need to focus on two things: improving defensively, which he said they need to do regardless of Bedard's position, and getting more in front of the goal.Forward Tyler Bertuzzi has been the best of late for the Blackhawks and is second on the team with 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) in 29 games.He has 15 high-danger goals.have come from a zone that leads EDGE stats.Nine of Bedard's goals have come from dangerous areas.
"Tyler is probably the one guy on our team that's been great at it, and he's a natural at it, but anybody can do it," Blashill said."One thing I've been impressed with Connor this year is he's been on tour, he's been to the net a lot, so everybody can do it. Definitely, bouncing pucks and things like that, having eye for the hand, there's a skill to it, but being around the net and creating chaos, whatever he can do."
Chicago recalled goaltender Laurent Prosoit and defenseman Ethan Del Mastro from conditioning assignments from Rockford of the American Hockey League, which begins a three-game road trip at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, CHSN).Blashill said Prosoit will be released on Monday and will be reassigned to Rockford if released.
Nick Foligno (hand) will travel with the Blackhawks, but whether he will play there remains uncertain.Foligno skated on his own for a few days but hasn't practiced with the Blackhawks since being injured on Nov.15 against the Maple Leafs.
Nick Lardis was also recalled from Rockford and made his debut in Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.The 20-year-old forward, who logged 15:32 of ice time against Detroit, has 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 24 AHL games this season.
"I'm going to have to step up and do my part," Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson said."This is going to be for everyone, as a unit and to win. Whether they are fat, win 1-0, 2-1 or if we can find a way to put a bunch in the net, it's great, but it's a win."
The Blackhawks will miss him, but they can't use his absence as an excuse to lose a spot in the standings.On Monday, they took three points out of a place in the Western Conference.
"That's what we have to focus on every year is just making simple, simple, simple plays and getting our plans right," Chicago forward Frank Nazar said."It's going to be a great test, right? We've got to go through the challenges and show that we can fight through something and come out on top."
