Connor Bedard’s injury timeframe and potential replacements for the All-Star Game:

Earlier today, reports indicated that Connor Bedard is expected to take approximately 6–8 weeks to recover from a recently undergone jaw surgery. Unfortunately, this timeline suggests that Bedard will likely miss the All-Star game in Toronto, the details of which will be elaborated on shortly.

Assuming Bedard adheres to the projected recovery period, his potential return would fall within the range of February 21st to March 6th. Notably, the Blackhawks have a substantial five-game home stretch during this period, commencing with a match against the Flyers on the 21st and concluding against the Blue Jackets on March 2nd. This home stand could serve as a favorable window for Bedard’s return, possibly involving the use of a caged helmet, similar to his appearance in the World Juniors.

Following this, the team faces an away series against the Avs, Yotes, and Caps, followed by a return home for a four-game set from March 10th to 17th against the Yotes, Ducks, Kings, and Sharks. Considering the relatively easier matchups and the luxury of time, a cautious approach to Bedard’s return might be prudent. If he makes his comeback on March 10th against Arizona, with 18 games remaining in the season, Bedard would have played a total of 57 games in his rookie year. Alternatively, an earlier return, perhaps during the preceding home stand, could see him participate in 62-66 games for his inaugural NHL season.

Given the All-Star game scheduled for February 3rd in Toronto, Chicago is likely to have a new representative for the event. Coach Luke Richardson has identified three primary candidates: Jason Dickinson (projected for a 28-goal season and over 40 points, with a +9 rating on a struggling team), Philipp Kurashev (23 points in 34 games), and goalie Petr Mrazek (with a.902 save percentage and a +.027 improvement on the backup). While none of the three may be considered true All-Stars under regular circumstances, the NHL’s requirement for each team to have a representative implies that one of them will likely step in. Personally, given Jason Dickinson’s performance exceeding expectations and a notable shooting percentage above 20%, he would be my choice.

As Bedard’s recovery progresses, more updates are expected in the coming 2-3 weeks, followed by another update after an additional 2 weeks. These developments should provide a clearer picture of Bedard’s on-ice schedule. The expectation is that he will aim for an earlier return than initially anticipated and may be back in action for the homestand beginning on February 21st.