Connor bedard injury news hit late Friday night after Chicago’s star center left the ice in visible pain and was immediately ruled out for Saturday’s game.
With 0.8 seconds left in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3–2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, December 12, 2025, Connor Bedard was hurt on a faceoff and did not return. The injury appeared to involve his right shoulder, and Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill called it a “freak accident.” Chicago has confirmed Bedard will miss Saturday, December 13, when the Blackhawks host the Detroit Red Wings, with the next team update expected Monday.
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What happened on the final faceoff
Bedard took a late offensive-zone draw as Chicago tried to create one last chance. On the faceoff, Blues center Brayden Schenn made contact that knocked Bedard down. Bedard immediately grabbed at his right shoulder and headed to the locker room with a trainer while play concluded.
The moment was especially jarring because it happened at the very end of a one-goal game, leaving Chicago no opportunity to adjust in-game and forcing the Blackhawks to shift quickly into injury-management mode.
Confirmed status for Saturday vs. Detroit
The Blackhawks have ruled Bedard out for Saturday’s matchup against the Red Wings. That’s the only confirmed timetable right now: he will miss at least one game.
Blashill declined to speculate publicly about how long the absence could last, emphasizing that the team would know more after further evaluation and that an update is expected Monday.
The right-shoulder concern
The team has characterized the issue as an apparent right shoulder injury. Beyond that, Chicago has not released confirmed details about a diagnosis.
For fans, that means it’s important to separate what is verified from what isn’t: the mechanism of the injury, Bedard’s immediate reaction, and his ruled-out status for Saturday are known. A medical label and a return date are not.
Why this matters for the Blackhawks right now
Bedard has been the engine of Chicago’s offense this season and the team’s most important lineup constant. Losing him—even briefly—changes the way the Blackhawks attack off the rush, run their power play, and structure late-game situations.
Friday’s game underscored that impact. Bedard recorded two assists against St. Louis before leaving in the final seconds, and his presence helped Chicago push back after the Blues jumped ahead early.
Bedard’s production this season
Before the injury, Bedard led the Blackhawks in scoring with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games this season. Those numbers reflect not only volume but also Chicago’s reliance on him in high-leverage minutes, including special teams and end-of-game scenarios.
Bedard entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and has continued to meet the spotlight. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in 2023–24.
How Chicago may adjust without him
With Bedard unavailable Saturday, Chicago will have to redistribute minutes and responsibilities quickly:
- Top-line center minutes: The Blackhawks will need another center to take the bulk of high-end matchups and late defensive draws.
- Power-play structure: Chicago’s top unit typically runs through Bedard’s touch and decision-making. Expect the puck to move through different primary options while the team tries to keep entries and set plays steady.
- End-of-period and end-of-game usage: Bedard’s absence affects the “who’s on the ice” decisions in the final minute, especially when trailing by one.
Any roster move or lineup decision beyond Bedard being out Saturday will be reflected on game day, but the key confirmed point is simple: Chicago will play Detroit without its top scorer.
What to watch next
The next meaningful milestone is the team’s expected update on Monday. That report should clarify whether Bedard’s right shoulder issue requires additional time or whether the Blackhawks believe he can return quickly.
Until then, the only verified status is that Bedard is out Saturday following the last-second faceoff incident in St. Louis.
A tense moment around a franchise cornerstone
The sequence was a gut-punch for Chicago because Bedard is not just a productive scorer—he’s the player the franchise is building around. When a team’s cornerstone exits in visible pain, the conversation changes instantly from the score to the season outlook.
For now, the Blackhawks—and their fans—are waiting for the next confirmed medical update, with Saturday’s game serving as the first test of how Chicago looks without its star center in the lineup.