Chicago has just 30 points, lowest in the league heading into the All-Star break. Bedard was named an All-Star on Jan. 4, but will miss game, skills competitions in Toronto as he recovers from a broken jaw.
With Connor Bedard, the injury-depleted Chicago Blackhawks were sputtering near the bottom of the NHL standings.
Without Bedard, the NHL's heralded top 2023 draft pick, they've hit the bottom.
Jason Dickinson (16) has been a bright spot for last-place Chicago.Heading into the NHL's All-Star break, the Blackhawks were 14-34-2. Their 30 points are the lowest in the league and their regulation loss total is the highest.
The San Jose Sharks jumped past Chicago from 32nd to 31st overall in the NHL with a 2-0 win over Seattle on Tuesday. San Jose plays at Anaheim on Wednesday in a light slate of three games before the league shuts down regular-season play for four days.
Chicago has lost four straight overall, and was shut out in three of those defeats. The Blackhawks have dropped a team-record 20 in a row on the road since a 5-3 win at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9, 2023 when Bedard had two goals and two assists in his first multi-point game in the NHL.
The 18-year-old Bedard still leads NHL rookies with 15 goals and 33 points, even though he's missed the last 11-plus games with a broken jaw. He was injured on an open-ice hit from Devils defenseman Brendan Smith late in the first period of a 4-2 loss in New Jersey on Jan. 5.
Bedard also leads the Blackhawks in points and is tied with center Jason Dickinson for the team lead in goals.
Chicago entered Wednesday with just 105 goals, tied for last with the Sharks. Although the Blackhawks have kept their recent games close, they simply can't finish around the net. See coach Luke Richardson in the following video.
Bedard has resumed skating in Chicago, but isn't expected to return to action for six to eight weeks following surgery to repair and stabilize the jaw on Jan. 8. He can't absorb impact or clench his jaw tightly until scans show it has healed sufficiently.
How have the Blackhawks fared with and without Bedard in the lineup? See the breakdown in the following story:
Bedard was named the youngest All-Star in NHL history on Jan. 4. It's possible the NHL may summon him for a cameo appearance around events in Toronto, but the Blackhawks are not scheduled to have a player participate in the All-Star game on Feb. 3 or skills competitions.
Bedard has already scored some highlight-reel goals, including a lacrosse-style or "Michigan" tally against St. Louis on Dec. 23. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native was expected to be a center of attention in shooting and other skills events.