Bedard Injury & Defense Moves | NHL News

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 6, 2026 · 1m

Connor Bedard’s latest shoulder scare could reshape the Blackhawks’ future—especially with his injury history and the looming offer sheet chatter. While teams may hesitate to gamble on his health, Bedard’s loyalty to Chicago and his leadership role might make him wait for the rebuild, even if it means sacrificing big money. On defense, the Blackhawks bolstered their blue line with Bowen Byram and Ian Cole, but now face a right-shot defenseman shortage, forcing some players to play off-side. Byram’s flexibility and veterans like Cole could help balance the pairings. Meanwhile, the IceHogs host…