Out for the year: Blackhawks confirm the worst for Connor Bedard's crucial injury

The 20-year-old center exited Friday night's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues clutching his shoulder after an awkward fall on a last-second faceoff, one of those freak plays coaches dread.

Head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed Bedard will be reevaluated after the New Year, a timeline that effectively pushes his return past the holiday break and into the calendar year ahead.

This isn't a short layoff. The Blackhawks clearly aren't rushing him back, even though his absence creates a massive void in Chicago's lineup.

There's some relief in the details, though; surgery is not required at this time, according to the latest update, meaning Bedard avoids the scalpel but still needs time and care to heal.

Still, the practical impact is the same: an extended stretch away from the ice for the franchise's cornerstone.

Chicago relied on Bedard as its scoring engine this season, with the former No. 1 overall pick leading the team with 44 points in 31 games, including 19 goals and 25 assists. Losing that production for the foreseeable future makes an already challenging season feel steeper.

Fans in the United Center and beyond have already felt the sting of Bedard's loss. There's a shared sense that the Blackhawks' push toward a Wild Card spot just got a lot harder without his dynamic playmaking. With him out until at least after the New Year, Chicago will lean on its depth and younger forwards to fill minutes and drive offense.

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Waiting on more clarity after the holiday isn't ideal, but it's the reality the Blackhawks and their supporters are facing. Bedard's talent is too valuable to risk on a premature return, so the focus will be on steady, measured progress rather than a quick timeline. In a league where momentum matters, Chicago's best hope now is staying in the hunt and rallying around the hope that when Bedard does return, he's ready to carry the team forward.