NHL News: Blackhawks confirm Connor Bedard will be without key teammate for the rest of the season

The Chicago Blackhawks just cannot catch a break during the 2024-25 NHL season. Following a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers hope remained the winds could finally favor the team in The Windy City. However, as the Hawks gear up for a meeting with the New Jersey Devils, interim head coach Anders Sorensen confirmed Connor Bedard and the rest of the team will be without a key player and veteran leader.

When will the bleeding stop for the Blackhawks? It seems it won’t cease until the season comes to an end. Chicago languishes at the bottom of the NHL standings, with nothing left to compete for in the campaign, and yet they continue to suffer big losses.

This time, the setback wasn’t on the scoreboard but in the locker room for Bedard and the Blackhawks. While the team prepares to take on the visiting Devils on March 26, Sorensen announced very bad news as an alternate captain on the organization will miss the rest of the regular season.

Following the Blackhawks’ morning skate on Tuesday, Sorensen confirmed Jason Dickinson will miss the remainder of the NHL regular season with a wrist injury, confirming a key absence for Bedard and Chicago.

Jason Dickinson #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks warms up prior to the game against the Seattle Kraken at the United Center on March 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Sorensen’s statement

While losing Dickinson on the ice is impactful for the Blackhawks, with the season pretty much over for them, and such a talented prospects pool, the situation could provide a big chance for players to show out in the big stage.

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“It’s a loss, but it’s an opportunity for other players to step up,” Sorensen said about Dickinson’s injury, via CHGO Blackhawks on X. “That’s some bad luck with [Dickinson], he’s had some bad luck throughout the season, missed extended time. Obviously, penalty kill is one thing, but we know, in terms of shutting other teams’ top line down, he’s done a good job [during the] last couple of years here.”

Foligno’s message to the team

It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the Blackhawks, though it was mostly characterized by the sudden drops, which felt never ending. That’s just how it usually is for rebuilding teams in the NHL. Players joining Chicago must be aware of that, and in case anybody forgot captain Nick Foligno made sure to remind them.

“We need guys that want to be a part of this. It’s not easy, it’s not for the faint of heart, it’s hard,” Foligno stated. “As you can see, it’s an emotional rollercoaster a lot of days, but we’re hoping that we can start to solidify ourselves. It’s gonna be an important last stretch to go on to a really important summer to pick up and move off of this feeling in here. But it’s not going to just jump leaps and bounds, it’s little increments.”