Connor Bedard will miss the start of the 2026-27 season after undergoing surgery (Credit: Getty Images)Several NHL players are expected to miss time at the start of the 2026-27 season after undergoing surgery or dealing with injuries during the offseason. While some may return within the first few weeks, others may have to wait until November or later before getting back into the lineup.Connor Bedard, Brad Marchand, Seth Jarvis, Troy Terry and Isac Lundestrom are among the players facing longer recoveries. Jiri Kulich, meanwhile, is expected to be ready when the new season begins. Here is the latest on when these players could return.When could Connor Bedard return from shoulder surgery?Connor Bedard will miss the start of the 2026-27 season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. The Chicago Blackhawks announced that their star center is expected to need around four months to recover.Bedard suffered the injury during an offseason training session on July 2. He is coming off the best season of his young NHL career, finishing 2025-26 with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games. There is some hope that Bedard could beat the four-month timeline.According to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, Bedard's agent, Don Meehan, said the 20-year-old is determined to return as soon as possible and could push for clearance after about three and a half months. If his recovery goes as planned, Bedard could be back in November.When could Brad Marchand return after surgery?Brad Marchand's situation is a little different because there is no firm return date yet. The Florida Panthers forward revealed that he underwent surgery after trying to deal with the issue without an operation. According to Reuters, Marchand could miss around two months following surgery related to hip and sports hernia issues. That could keep him out for part of the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season.Marchand missed the final 19 games of last season because of a lower-body injury but still finished with 54 points in 52 games. The 38-year-old also confirmed that his recovery will prevent him from taking part in Zdeno Chara's charity game on Aug. 21.When could Seth Jarvis return from his shoulder injury?Seth Jarvis will also miss the beginning of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery following the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup victory. According to Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky, Jarvis is expected to be out for four to six months. That puts his possible return window between late October and December.Jarvis led Carolina with 32 goals in 71 regular-season games last season. He also recorded 11 points in 19 playoff games during the Hurricanes' championship run. Carolina will have to manage without one of its top forwards while he works his way back.When could Troy Terry return after hip surgery?Troy Terry is expected to miss the opening part of the season after undergoing hip surgery on June 9. According to the Anaheim Ducks, Terry's recovery is expected to take five to six months. That puts his return around early to mid-November.The timeline could keep him out for roughly the first 20 to 30 games of the season. Terry still produced 57 points in 61 games last season despite missing time with injury. His absence could give younger Ducks forwards such as Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke more chances early in the season.When could Isac Lundestrom return to the Blue Jackets?Isac Lundestrom is another player who could return during the first few months of the season. The Columbus Blue Jackets center suffered an Achilles injury during offseason training and underwent surgery.According to the Blue Jackets, Lundestrom is expected to return in early November. That would likely keep him out for at least the first month of the regular season. Lundestrom played 68 games for Columbus last season, recording four goals and eight assists. When he is healthy, he is expected to take up a fourth-line center role.