Chicago Blackhawks rookie phenom Connor Bedard is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing jaw surgery this week, the team announced Wednesday.
Bedard was hurt last Friday on an open-ice hit by Brendan Smith of the New Jersey Devils.
The timeline means Bedard will miss the NHL All-Star Game Feb. 3 in Toronto.
Picked first overall by the Blackhawks in last year’s NHL Draft, Bedard has 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 39 games. Bedard leads the rookie scoring race by nine points.
The 18-year-old native of North Vancouver, B.C., was the CHL player of the year last season with the Regina Pats and led Canada to gold at the 2023 world junior championship.
The Blackhawks’ long list of injured forwards also includes Nick Foligno (fractured left finger), Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist), Tyler Johnson (right foot) and Andreas Athanasiou (groin). But Joey Anderson and Taylor Raddysh returned to the lineup for Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
–with files from The Associated Press
