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Connor Bedard Injured: Blackhawks Recall Players Ahead of Team Canada Roster Deadline

12/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury sustained on December 12.
The injury occurred during a faceoff when Bedard was knocked down by Brayden Schenn.
Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games.
Rosters for Team Canada are due by December 31, and the Blackhawks recalled Ethan Del Mastro and Laurent Brossoit from the AHL.

History

Historical Context

The NHL has prioritized player safety since the 2000s, responding to rising concussion concerns, notably hiring Brendan Shanahan as vice-president of player safety in 2009. Following the 2017 expansion of the Vegas Golden Knights, the league introduced new regulations, resulting in a 15% decrease in concussions that season. Connor Bedard's recent injury underscores the ongoing challenges of ensuring player health in a physically demanding sport.

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Story summary

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury sustained on December 12.
The injury occurred during a faceoff when Bedard was knocked down by Brayden Schenn.
Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games.
Rosters for Team Canada are due by December 31, and the Blackhawks recalled Ethan Del Mastro and Laurent Brossoit from the AHL.

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