Chicago Blackhawks place Connor Bedard on injured reserve with upper-body injury

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Monday they have placed star forward Connor Bedard on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, sidelining the 20-year-old center for at least the next week. The move comes after Bedard suffered a shoulder injury during the final seconds of Friday night’s 3-2 loss in St. Louis, leaving a massive void in the Blackhawks’ lineup.

Bedard was attempting to win a crucial faceoff in the Blues’ zone with less than a second remaining when he was knocked down by St. Louis center Brayden Schenn. The play happened so quickly that many initially missed the severity of the situation. Bedard immediately grasped his right shoulder and left the ice with a trainer, wincing in visible pain. Coach Jeff Blashill later described the incident as a “freak accident,” clarifying that Schenn’s contact was not the cause of the injury. The IR designation is retroactive to December 12, meaning Bedard cannot return to game action before December 19 at the earliest.

Impact of Connor Bedard’s absence on Chicago Blackhawks’ offense

Connor Bedard’s absence creates a staggering challenge for a team that has relied on him for nearly half of its entire offensive production this season. Through 31 games, Bedard led the team with 19 goals and 25 assists, accounting for 44 points. Perhaps more telling, he had scored or assisted on 48.4% of Chicago’s 91 goals entering Saturday, the second-highest percentage in the entire league behind only San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini. In Bedard’s last 13 games alone, that percentage had climbed to 56.3% as he elevated his play to new heights.

The Blackhawks experienced a similar crisis in early 2024 when Bedard missed 14 games with a broken jaw. During that stretch, the team managed just 17 goals, averaging a dismal 1.3 goals per game while compiling a 2-10-1 record. While the supporting cast has improved somewhat since that rookie season, the offensive structure remains heavily dependent on Bedard’s elite playmaking and scoring ability.

Saturday’s 4-0 shutout loss to Detroit provided an immediate and sobering preview of life without their franchise cornerstone. Head coach Jeff Blashill shuffled the lines, moving Frank Nazar into the first-line center role between Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky. The unit struggled to generate consistent scoring chances, managing just 24 shots against the Red Wings. Secondary scorers like Bertuzzi (26 points in 28 games) and Burakovsky (21 points in 26 games) were acquired specifically to complement Bedard, not replace him. Their games are built around playing off Bedard’s gravitational pull, not serving as primary drivers of offense themselves.

Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis called up to fill offensive void

In a move that signals both urgency and hope, the Blackhawks have promoted Nick Lardis from their AHL affiliate in Rockford to help address the scoring gap. The 20-year-old forward entered the weekend sixth in the AHL in scoring with 26 points in just 24 games, following his remarkable 71-goal campaign last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs. Lardis had been exceeding expectations at the professional level, forcing the timeline on his development.

Rockford coach Jared Nightingale praised Lardis’ abilities in November, highlighting his special shot and versatile scoring. “When you see his shot, it’s special, no matter what age you are,” Nightingale said. “He can score in a variety of ways — off the rush and obviously on the power play. I think he’s just as good a passer, too.”

The Blackhawks initially planned to keep Lardis in Rockford for most of this season to build strength and refine his defensive game. However, circumstances have forced their hand. Lardis will likely get power-play opportunities and could skate in a top-six role immediately. If he can translate his AHL success to the NHL level, he might provide exactly the spark Chicago needs to stay competitive during Bedard’s absence.

Frank Nazar’s role becomes even more critical, as he centers the top line and takes over as the primary offensive catalyst. The 21-year-old center has shown flashes of brilliance but struggled to maintain his October production levels. Now thrust into the spotlight, Nazar must elevate his game while facing opposing teams’ top defensive pairings every night.

What Connor Bedard’s injury means for Chicago’s season outlook

The timing of this injury could not be more challenging for Chicago’s playoff aspirations. After finishing near the bottom of the league in Bedard’s first two seasons, the Blackhawks had climbed to a respectable 13-12-6 record with him in the lineup. December features a packed schedule, and January brings 16 games in 31 days. Dropping multiple games during this stretch could quickly derail any postseason momentum.

Bedard was enjoying the best start of his young career, recording his first two NHL hat tricks and establishing himself among the league’s elite playdrivers. His 44 points in 31 games had him on pace for a 117-point season, a remarkable jump from his 61 points in 68 games as a rookie. The 2023 first overall pick is also entering a crucial contractual phase, as he’s in the final year of his entry-level deal and will require a new contract for 2026-27. While negotiations have been ongoing, any serious injury could theoretically complicate these discussions.

The seven-day minimum IR requirement means Bedard will miss Chicago’s upcoming three-game road trip through eastern Canada, starting Tuesday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. The team visits Montreal on Thursday and Ottawa on Saturday before returning home. Eight days after the injury occurred, the Blackhawks host the New York Rangers on December 20, which represents the earliest possible return date.

Roster moves provide depth while star forward recovers

Along with recalling Lardis, Chicago made additional roster adjustments by bringing up defenseman Ethan Del Mastro and goaltender Laurent Brossoit from Rockford. Brossoit had been on a conditioning assignment after returning from injury, while Del Mastro, 22, has two goals and four assists in 27 career NHL games. These moves provide necessary depth as the Blackhawks navigate a busy stretch with limited practice time.

The IR placement creates salary-cap flexibility, allowing Chicago to carry extra players. General manager Kyle Davidson faces a balancing act between remaining competitive now and protecting the team’s long-term interests. Rushing Bedard back from a shoulder injury could have consequences that extend far beyond this season.

In the meantime, Blashill’s message to his team remains clear: everyone must elevate their play. The coach spoke after Saturday’s loss about the need for collective improvement rather than individual heroics. “Any time you lose a player, anybody, how much you feel that loss depends on how well the guys that are in the lineup play,” Blashill said. “That’s just reality.”

What it means for the Blackhawks’ championship timeline

Connor Bedard’s injury serves as a stark reminder of how fragile team-building progress can be in the NHL. Chicago’s front office has assembled a promising collection of young talent, including Lardis, Frank Nazar, and soon-to-arrive European prospects Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov. However, the team remains at least one season away from having the depth to withstand losing a player of Bedard’s caliber.

The Blackhawks’ strategy has always been a patient rebuild focused on sustainable success, not quick fixes. This injury tests that philosophy and may accelerate the timeline for integrating prospects who weren’t originally scheduled for significant NHL roles this season. How the team responds over the next two weeks could influence trade-deadline decisions and roster construction for years to come.

For now, the focus remains on recovery and smart management of Bedard’s health. The Blackhawks have invested too much in their franchise cornerstone to risk his long-term future for short-term gains. While fans and teammates alike hope for a speedy return, the organization will prioritize making sure Bedard is fully healthy before he returns to the ice.

Chicago’s playoff hopes haven’t vanished, but they’ve grown considerably dimmer. The next seven to fourteen days will reveal whether this young Blackhawks team has the resilience to weather its first real adversity of the 2025-26 season. If nothing else, the organization will learn valuable lessons about which players can step up when the spotlight shines brightest, and which areas still need reinforcement before the team can truly contend.