Bedard apparent – Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks’ star, appeared to injure his left shoulder during a practice in Vancouver on Thursday after falling into the boards, raising concerns about another injury timeline as the team continues contract talks and line planning for next s
When the puck was nowhere in sight and practice was supposed to be routine, Connor Bedard still managed to turn a Thursday skate into a moment of worry.
The Blackhawks’ cornerstone forward suffered an apparent left shoulder injury while skating in his hometown of Vancouver. A video of the incident shows Bedard losing his balance, falling into the boards, and then skating off the ice while holding his left shoulder in apparent pain.
The episode looked similar to how Bedard exited the ice on Dec. 12 in St. Louis, after injuring his right shoulder—the opposite side—on a final-second faceoff against the Blues. In both cases, the injury came suddenly, and the skating off looked more like damage than just an awkward stumble.
Ryan McGregor. a Hawks blogger who was watching the practice Thursday in Vancouver. reported the news and described it as reminiscent of the St. Louis incident. Bedard was skating with his usual group of Vancouver-based pros. with Sabres forward Zach Benson. Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains. and Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni among those on the ice.
Last season, Bedard missed four weeks of games because of an injury. He also wasn’t 100% when he first returned. and he wasn’t able to take faceoffs for his first month back in the lineup. It wasn’t until the end of the Olympic break—more than two months after the injury—that he appeared back to 100%.
Now, the timeline question is back on the table, this time with the shoulder on the other side. Bedard’s agent, Don Meehan, said more information would be known in the coming days.
Even as Chicago tries to figure out its contract picture and potential linemates for next season, Bedard’s status is a piece the organization can’t afford to gamble on. He is currently without a contract as a restricted free agent, and his camp and the Blackhawks have been negotiating.
Connor Bedard Chicago Blackhawks Vancouver practice left shoulder injury restricted free agent Don Meehan Zach Benson Arshdeep Bains Luca Cagnoni
Another shoulder again? Dude can’t catch a break.
I saw the clip and he just kinda… stopped. If it’s the same as last time, that’s gonna mess up his contract talks too, right? Coaches always act like it’s routine until it isn’t.
Wait so he fell and injured his left shoulder but then they said it’s like the St. Louis one? Sounds like he’s cursed or something. Also why is he skating in Vancouver if he’s with Chicago? contract stuff aside, shouldn’t the team be protecting him more.
Man, missed four weeks last season and wasn’t 100% for forever… and now it’s the other shoulder. I’m not saying it’s fake or anything but “practice in Vancouver” sounds like they’re just trying to hype him for deals. If Don Meehan says we’ll know in the coming days, that’s code for “wait and see” like always.