- Connor Bedard accepted Canada’s invite, then declined after talking with team doctors about his recovery
- The 20-year-old separated his shoulder Dec. 12 in St. Louis and missed the next 12 games
- Read below for what Bedard told The Athletic about turning Canada down and what kind of season he is coming off
Connor Bedard wanted to play for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. His shoulder had other plans.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Friday that Bedard will not suit up for the tournament in Switzerland later this month, opting to keep rehabbing the injury that wrecked a chunk of his regular season.
Bedard told The Athletic’s Scott Powers that conversations with doctors made the decision for him. He didn’t want to push it.
“Kind of seeing obviously how your body’s feeling after the season and take a week or whatever. Feel pretty good for the most part,” Bedard said. “I think just talking to doctors and stuff and obviously given the injury I had, just a little more time to rehab. I wouldn’t say heal, but kind of rehab and get that strength and stuff would be beneficial.”
The 20-year-old hurt his shoulder on Dec. 12 in a freak faceoff sequence against the Blues, then missed the next 12 games before returning in early January.
Saying no to a Team Canada invite is never easy, and Bedard admitted as much.
“When you get the opportunity (to play for Canada), it’s hard to say no,” Bedard said. “Like it’s May 1 and I already miss playing hockey games, dreading not being able to play games for four or five months. To say no to an opportunity where you get to play games and play for your country is hard.”
Despite the layoff, the Blackhawks center put up career-best numbers. He finished the regular season with 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games, his first time crossing both benchmarks. After the Olympic break, he said he played some of his best hockey of the year.
His top goals from the first half:
Chicago missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year, including all three of Bedard’s NHL seasons. The pressure to get next year right is already there, and he knows it.
The 2026 Worlds run May 15-31 in Switzerland. Canada will fill out its roster without its 2023 No. 1 overall pick.
