Connor Bedard, the first-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and the All-Star representative from the Chicago Blackhawks, is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a fractured jaw.
He has been placed on the injured reserve list and it is reported that he underwent surgery to repair the injury, which he suffered against the New Jersey Devils on January 5.
Before he was drafted with the top pick in 2023, Bedard was the most hyped rookie since Connor McDavid entered the league in 2015.
So far, he has delivered. Early in his injury layoff, Bedard still leads his team in goals (15), assists (18), and points (33), and he's nearly averaging a point per game with 39 games played.
Read more: Connor Bedard tracker
Despite the fact that he could miss two months due to the injury, he is still the -225 favorite to win the Calder Trophy for the NHL's top rookie.
Bedard has six multi-point games this season, including a four-point performance (two goals, two assists) in a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in his 12th NHL game.
Look for the Blackhawks' second-leading points scorers, Philipp Kurashev and Jason Dickinson, to step up with the team's star out.
Odds mentioned in this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
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