Connor Bedard Out for 6-8 Weeks: What’s Next for the Blackhawks?
CHICAGO- On Jan. 5, Connor Bedard was forced to leave the Blackhawks matchup against the New Jersey Devils due to an apparent injury. By Jan. 10, the Blackhawks announced that Bedard would miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw. This news comes as a blow to the Blackhawks organization, and the entire Blackhawks fan base, as Bedard’s emergence as a young star has been the one bright spot to an otherwise dismal season.
Image Credit: Bleacher Report
The game itself was close, with the Blackhawks and Devils fighting it out in a game that was deadlocked in the third period at two goals-a-piece. The Devils eventually came away with the 4-2 win at home, and the misery for Chicago fans only got worse after the final buzzer.
Image Credit: WGN Radio
The only short term wins for the Blackhawks came in the form of goals by Logan Dickinson and Boris Katchouk. The Blackhawks also showed resilience in the face of adversity, with Bedard leaving in the first period. Many of the Blackhawks skaters realized their role and stuck up for their injured golden boy showing the team chemistry of this Blackhawks squad. Namely, Nick Foligno squared up with Brendan Smith, the Devil who delivered the clean hit on Bedard that left him injured, in a bid to defend Bedard’s honor.
Image Credit: The Hockey News
The outlook for the Blackhawks going forward does not look good. Their young superstar is now out for a considerable amount of time and they are left with the 8th best (last) record in the Central Division. It is imperative that the Blackhawks prioritize the marathon over the sprint and do not rush Bedard back. This season can already be considered a wash, due to the Blackhawks being at least five games back from the 7th place team in the Central, so it’s best to safeguard their biggest asset and prepare for next season. While that is what no sports fan wants to hear about their favorite team, it is the cold hard truth.
While their matchup against the Devils was a disappointment to say the least, it helps that the boys at least went down swinging.
You can see the Blackhawks, minus Bedard, square off against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday January 16th 8:30pm ET.
