McDavid gives Bedard advice after sustaining serious injury

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Liam McCormick
January 10, 2024 (2:47 PM)

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Earlier today, news broke that Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard had to undergo a surgery to repair his broken jaw, which will keep him out of the lineup for the next 6-8 weeks. It's an extremely tough blow for the already depleted Blackhawks, and personally for Bedard who was having a stellar season on his way to a Calder Trophy.

After playing the Blackhawks last night, Connor McDavid was asked if he had any advice for the rookie phenom having to deal with such a significant injury, like McDavid did himself in his rookie year which kept him out for nearly half the season.

McDavid definitely seemed to sympathize with Bedard missing so much time in his one and only rookie year. McDavid stressed the importance of being a good teammate while injured, expressed confidence that Bedard would be back better than ever soon.

Yeah, it sucks. It really sucks. I've been in his shoes before, you know, there's no other way to say other than, you know, it's a bad feeling. Things pass, he'll get healthy, he'll play, you know, at the top of his level again this year. Stick with it, be positive, be a good teammate.

It's a great moment of leadership from McDavid, even supporting the young talent in the league on other teams when it supersedes hockey towards personal health. Of course, Bedard will return from this injury to be the elite player he is again this year, but the disappointment of his injury is felt across the league, as shown by McDavid.