The Minnesota Wild made their longest playoff run in a decade last spring, but they had to earn it in the Central Division. With five playoff teams, the Central Division was a gauntlet last season and it gave the Wild a competitive matchup any time they met one of their rivals on the ice.
With this in mind, the Wild will take any advantage they can get going into the 2026-27 season and they received one when Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard left an offseason training session with an apparent shoulder injury last week. Although it was tough to evaluate the extent of the injury from the video, it was revealed on Wednesday when the Blackhawks announced that Bedard “underwent successful surgery to repair his left shoulder.”
While the Blackhawks expect him to make a full recovery, the timeline of four months could give the Wild an edge as they battle the Central Division next season.
Connor Bedard’s injury could provide early push for Wild next season
The Blackhawks weren’t a threat to the Wild last season, finishing in last place with 72 points. But they made one of the biggest moves of the offseason when they sent the fourth overall pick, a second-round pick and defenseman Louis Crevier to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram. With a healthy Bedard in the mix, the Blackhawks were hoping to make a big leap this year but his injury could throw a wrench into those hopes.
The first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft set career highs with 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games for the Blackhawks last year and that included a pair of goals and six points in four games against the Wild. Still, the Wild have gone 9-1-1 in 11 games against Chicago since Bedard entered the league and if they don’t face him over the first month of the season, it will be a welcomed advantage.
The Central Division has been active this offseason as the Colorado Avalanche traded Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets and signed Jaden Schwartz as his replacement. The Dallas Stars have also been active sending forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators.
The Utah Mammoth, who made the playoffs as a wild card team, also got better by adding Wild free agent target Anders Lee and former trade target Vincent Trocheck and the St. Louis Blues acquired Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade during last month’s NHL Draft.
With each team improving themselves, it puts pressure on the Wild’s roster shake up this summer. It could also not be done as Jason Robertson is still negotiating a long-term deal with the Stars and Minnesota could swing a trade for a center with their No. 1 target Dylan Larkin.
Long story short, the Central Division has turned into an arm’s race and with the news of Bedard’s injury, the Wild will welcome seeing their rivals begin the year with one hand tied behind their back.
Add us as a preferred source on Google