Blackhawks' Connor Bedard says missing Olympics puts onus on himself

Connor Bedard said he was disappointed to be left off Team Canada's Olympic roster and is using the decision to identify areas to improve; he returned to limited, non-contact practice after a Dec. 12 shoulder injury.

Connor Bedard said he was disappointed to be left off Team Canada's Olympic roster and described the decision as a reflection of his play. He spoke after taking part partially in his first practice since suffering a shoulder injury on Dec. 12. Bedard said he wants to "look in the mirror" and find where he can get better, and he said there are no hard feelings toward the roster that was chosen. Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill declined to weigh in on the selection and emphasized Bedard's focus on becoming the best player he can for the team. Key facts: - Bedard was not named to Team Canada's Olympic roster and said he feels disappointed but is focusing on improving his game. - He suffered a shoulder injury on Dec. 12 and joined the Blackhawks' practice as a non-contact participant while ramping up his rehab. - Through 31 NHL games this season he had 19 goals and 25 assists and ranked third in the league with 1.42 points per game. - Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said Bedard's injury did not play much of a role in the decision; Bedard said he was called before the roster was announced and believes he is on a backup list. - Coach Jeff Blashill said Bedard was concentrating on helping the Blackhawks and that there is no exact timeline for his return. Summary: Bedard is responding to his Olympic omission by emphasizing self-review and continued development while he recovers from a shoulder injury. He has returned to limited team practice as a non-contact participant and is ramping up his rehab. Team officials said the injury did not largely influence Olympic selections and that Bedard was considered late in the process. Exact timing for his return to full play is undetermined at this time.