Chicago’s rookie star Connor Bedard will be out of the lineup six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair his broken jaw, the NHL club announced Wednesday.
Bedard sustained the injury Friday in a 4-2 loss at New Jersey.
The first-overall pick at the 2023 NHL draft was having an excellent rookie season before the injury.
The 18-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., leads both his team and rookies with 15 goals, 18 assists and 33 points.
Connor Bedard went to the locker room following this hit from Brendan Smith. <a href=”https://t.co/OUZyKCBCRx”>pic.twitter.com/OUZyKCBCRx</a>
—@Sportsnet
He was named the NHL’s rookie of the month in November and December.
“I think he’ll graduate to the bike in the gym after a surgery, and then get to the [ice],” Chicago head coach Luke Richardson said. “But he’ll be probably trying to negotiate to get on earlier, I’m sure, but we’ll just try and manage that as best as possible.”
Chicago faces the league-leading Jets in Winnipeg on Thursday.
Chicago’s 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 Edmonton.
Seth Jones, the team’s top defenceman, also is on IR with a shoulder injury. He hasn’t played since Dec. 10.
The 29-year-old Jones wasn’t ready to travel with the team for Thursday night’s game at Winnipeg, but he is skating again and nearing a return.