Blackhawks hit hard with latest Connor Bedard update from Jeff Blashill

The 20-year-old Bedard exited Friday's 3-2 loss in St. Louis favoring his right shoulder after a last-second faceoff collision, and he hasn't spoken to the media since leaving the ice in grueling pain.

NEW: Connor Bedard opens up on shoulder injury, hopes to return soon for Chicago Blackhawks

It was clear from the moment he left the ice that this wasn't a minor scare, and now Bedard's MRI results have backed up those fears with the team opting to hold him out until doctors provide more info to the team.

Before the injury, Bedard was the Blackhawks' offensive engine, amassing 44 points through 31 games and leading Chicago's scoring while establishing himself among the NHL's most dangerous young goal-scoring forwards.

The absence of Bedard, especially during a pivotal stretch including games in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, feels monumental.

Fans and analysts alike know his ability to tilt a game in Chicago's favor, and losing that edge could have ripple effects on the team's competitive push.

Which was visibly displayed in Saturday's loss to the Red Wings, where the Blackhawks were shut out in Bedard's first game absent.

While coach Blashill stressed caution and not forcing a timeline, there's a palpable concern that this stretch could meaningfully alter Chicago's December trajectory.

Blackhawks management has already brought forward Nick Lardis from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs to help fill the void and provide scoring depth in Bedard's absence, a move that underscores both the severity of the situation and the importance of internal depth.

Without Bedard's dynamic presence on the top power play unit or his knack for clutch scoring, Chicago's forwards will need to step up. How they adapt on entries, puck retrieval, and finishing will tell if they can stay afloat during this critical swing of games. Blashill's emphasis on structure and consistency could be the stabilizer the Hawks need until Bedard is ready to rejoin the lineup.

This is a stark reminder of how quickly a promising Blackhawks season can be challenged, yet the team's response over the next week will say a lot about their resilience.