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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.
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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.
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