On Wednesday, the Chicago Blackhawks gave an unpleasant update on forward Connor Bedard, who appeared to hurt his shoulder at a summer skate last week. 

Bedard, who was preparing for his fourth NHL season, underwent successful surgery to repair his left shoulder. The expected timeline is roughly four months. 

The quote in the above post from social media comes from team physician, Dr. Michael Terry. 

This four-month timeline has Bedard coming back in mid-November. By that time, the Blackhawks will have played over a month's worth of games. 

Although it is less than ideal to have Bedard away from the rink for that long, it is encouraging that he is expected to make a full recovery. Of course, as the face of the franchise, his future is the most important thing. 

Last year, a shoulder injury that didn't require surgery kept Bedard out for about a month. During that time, the Blackhawks fell completely out of the race, largely because of his absence. 

This time, they will be trying to have a good start to the season, so that they are in a good place once Bedard returns to the ice. 

It is a bad luck situation for Bedard and the Blackhawks, but it isn't one that they feel can't be overcome. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.