Avalanche Blackhawks Hockey

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks are moving into another big summer after going 29-39-14 this year, an 11-point improvement on the previous season and nowhere near playoff contention. They have finished No. 31 in the NHL each of the last three years. Connor Bedard is eligible for restricted free agency, but it’s unlikely that his contract situation lingers for that long. He has said repeatedly how much he likes playing in Chicago and expressed confidence in the direction of the team. And Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson says they plan to start working on Bedard's new contract soon.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will miss the start of the season after he had surgery on his left shoulder. Team physician Michael Terry says Bedard is expected “to make a full recovery in an approximate timeline of four months.” The NHL hasn’t announced its regular-season schedule, but the Blackhawks played their first game last season on Oct. 7. Bedard, who turns 21 on July 17, got hurt while skating with a group of NHL players last week in his hometown of Vancouver. It’s a major blow for a Blackhawks team trying to emerge from a painful rebuilding process.