The Chicago Blackhawks hoped to make more progress in their rebuild during the 2026 offseason. However, those plans took a major hit after Connor Bedard had shoulder surgery and is expected to miss about four months.

Bedard could return around mid-November after injuring his left shoulder and undergoing surgery. The 20-year-old star center is expected to miss training camp, preseason games, and at least the first month of the regular season.

The Blackhawks’ preseason starts on September 19. This injury changes the team’s plans after an already challenging offseason.

According to a report by Adam Proteau of The Hockey News, Chicago’s decision was to trade the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Bowen Byram.

Byram is a talented top-four defenseman, but the report questioned whether spending major money on him was the best choice for a rebuilding team instead of adding another top young prospect.

Chicago’s other key additions, Jordan Greenway and veteran defenseman Ian Cole, may not provide enough impact to replace Bedard’s absence.

The Blackhawks still have plenty of salary-cap space, but losing their franchise player at the start of the season creates a big concern. Without Bedard in the lineup, Chicago could struggle and fall behind in the standings before he returns.

Blackhawks must survive the opening stretch

Additional reporting from Casey McAleer of Da Windy City showed how important Connor Bedard has become for the Blackhawks. The report said Bedard led Chicago in points last season and continued to improve, even though he played fewer games than the year before.

With Bedard out, players like Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi will need to take on bigger offensive roles. The report also said Chicago’s new additions must make an immediate impact if the team wants to stay competitive early in the season.

McAleer also noted that the injury should not affect Bedard’s long-term career. However, missing training camp, preseason games, and the start of the regular season will make things more difficult for a young Blackhawks team still building its identity.

The Blackhawks have already missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, so another slow start could make their playoff hopes even harder. Chicago still has several talented young players around Bedard, but his injury has made an already difficult offseason even more challenging.

Bedard’s shoulder surgery has created a big test for the Blackhawks. With their franchise center expected to miss the start of the season, Chicago will need strong performances from other players and new additions to stay close in the standings.

The rebuild is still on track, but the road back to playoff contention has become much tougher.

What do you think? Can Chicago survive until Connor Bedard returns and help change the future of their rebuild? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason