Connor Bedard on injured reserve 2 months before Canada opens Olympic hockey tourney

Connor Bedard's Olympic hopes took a potential hit Monday when Chicago placed the young NHL star on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

The move is retroactive to Dec. 12 following an injury sustained with one second left in Friday's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

The 20-year-old centre from North Vancouver, B.C., was hurt on a faceoff and left the ice, appearing to clutch his right shoulder.

Bedard leads Chicago with 44 points in 31 games, fourth in the NHL.

The 2023 No. 1 draft pick is a potential candidate for Canada at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Chicago also recalled defenceman Ethan Del Mastro and goaltender Laurent Brossoit from Rockford of the American Hockey League. Brossoit had been in the minors on a conditioning assignment.

Del Mastro, 22, has two goals and six points in 27 career games with Chicago, which opens a three-game road trip Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Could Bedard, Celebrini or Schaefer make Canada's Olympic roster?