Connor Bedard won't be making a return any time soon.
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill told reporters Wednesday that Bedard isn't close to joining the team for practice.
The new Blackhawks captain has been recovering from shoulder surgery he had on July 9.
Bedard, 21, was injured in July while skating with a group of NHL players in western Canada and is expected to miss the start of the season.
It's a major blow for a Blackhawks team trying to emerge from a painful rebuilding process.
However, the injury didn't stop the Blackhawks from committing to Bedard for the long haul this off-season.
Not only did they name him the 37th captain in franchise history, but they also signed him to a five-year, $75-million contract this summer.
Bedard has been the centrepiece of the team since he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He made his anticipated NHL debut that October and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year.
He set career highs with 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games in his third NHL season in 2025-26.
Chicago went 29-39-14 last season, an 11-point improvement on the previous year, but still nowhere near playoff contention. The team has finished No. 31 in the NHL each of the last three years.
— With files from the Associated Press
