Connor Bedard expected to miss 6-8 weeks after Blackhawks rookie had surgery on his broken jaw
CHICAGO — Connor Bedard could miss up to two months after jaw surgery, the Chicago Blackhawks announced Wednesday.
Bedard “underwent successful surgery to repair his fractured jaw at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and we expect him to be out of the lineup for approximately 6-8 weeks,” team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement.
That would place Bedard’s earliest possible return in the last week of February. The Hawks begin a five-game homestand Feb. 21 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The timeline ensures that Bedard will miss NHL All-Star weekend Feb. 1-3 in Toronto. He made league history the day before his injury as the youngest player named to the All-Star Game.
After practice Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena, coach Luke Richardson said he wasn’t surprised by Bedard’s timeline.
“I think they are just (being) precautionary on a young guy having a trauma injury like that,” he said. “If it’s earlier, great. But I think that’s probably a normal timeline.”
Bedard injured his jaw Friday in a collision with New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith.
Richardson said Bedard will have to take gradual steps to get back on the ice, even if he’s not taking contact.
“There’s a timeline for him, too, almost like a concussion protocol,” he said. “He’ll graduate to the bike in the gym after surgery and then get to the (ice).
“But he’ll be probably trying to negotiate to get on (the ice) early, I’m sure. We’ll just try and manage that as best as possible.”
