Already dealing with a long injury list, things just got even worse on that front for the Blackhawks. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve placed center Connor Bedard and winger Nick Foligno on injured reserve. Bedard has a fractured jaw while Foligno is dealing with a fractured left finger.
Both players sustained the injuries during Friday’s game against New Jersey. Bedard was injured on a hit from Brendan Smith, leaving the game immediately after that. The 2023 top pick has been as advertised this season, leading Chicago in scoring with 15 goals and 18 assists in 39 games, making him the odds-on favorite for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. It also helped him land his first All-Star nod earlier this week.
While no timeline for a return was provided for either player, it’s worth noting that Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner is working his way back from a fractured jaw as well – he skated with the team today. His recovery timeline was estimated at six weeks at the time of injury so it’s possible the Blackhawks could be without their star rookie through the All-Star break at a minimum.
As for Foligno, the 36-year-old has come as advertised after his rights were acquired during the offseason. While he’s playing a lot higher in the lineup than he had in recent years, Foligno has been one of Chicago’s more productive forwards, collecting eight goals and nine assists in his 39 appearances so far. Both sides appear to be open about the possibility of a contract extension for the pending UFA.
Bedard and Foligno join a very crowded injury list that also includes forwards Taylor Hall, Tyler Johnson, Andreas Athanasiou, Anthony Beauvillier, Taylor Raddysh, and Joey Anderson along with defenseman Seth Jones. Chicago just swung a deal to acquire Rem Pitlick to get back to now 11 forwards on its active roster but another roster move will likely be coming before their game tomorrow against Calgary.
Ban Brendan Smith.
For a clean hit?
Maybe hockey is not the sport for you.
How was it a clean hit when he broke his jaw?
How is the injury relevant to whether it was a clean hit or not?
Sad but s**t happens like I stated playing against men instead of boys is a different beast..at what 5 foot 11 inches getting hit from 6 foot 4 guy cleanly it’s going to happen..At least it’s not a concussion..
@Bucky76 — Unfortunately, we don’t know that a concussion was or wasn’t diagnosed. Seems some teams in the league don’t always disclose stuff to us. And the bet mongers…
@MacJablonski that is true but if it is I would say it will leak out like motor oil slow slow and then faster..
And for all the fans out there that think it’s dirty and for Smith to be suspended come on, I will let you all know when a Kleenex sale is happening in your cities or towns…
Bettman will have to get his boy a yellow “no contact” jersey for his return!
I bet Chicago fans are scurrying to sell their tickets the next 6 weeks! Actually now they are worthless, they can donate them to the homeless.
While what happened was a ‘clean’ hit, its obvious he was trying to trying to knock Bedard out of the game, and the Hawks just need to respond in kind to ensure their players (Bedard or anyone else) know not to try to target them. They want to play rough? Draw blood on the culprit and they’ll leave Bedard alone.
Bedard probably fractured his jaw because he’s so young that his bones haven’t fully developed yet. It’s totally on Bedard and the Hawks for that risk.
Man, I hope that is sarcasm otherwise that is the dumbest thing I have seen in a comment board in a LOOOONG time.
Brendan Smith – One Man Wrecking Crew
Still hope they don’t re-sign him lol. He had a good game last night.
It was a completely legal and honest hit on Bedard.
It that was a clean hit, then the definition must be changed.
To? “You can’t hit if an injury results” = non-check league.
The rule for Bedard to learn is “head up skating through the neutral zone”. It’s a full check league and the hit was shoulder to shoulder. The whiplash which snapped his jaw is cause he didn’t see it coming.
So Bedard will miss the All Star Game and a game in his hometown of Vancouver on Jan 22nd. The timing stinks.
100% clean hit.
link to youtu.be
It’s a good hit. It’s the hit that every coach should expect their defenseman to make. Unfortunate that Bedard got hurt so badly, but if I’m coaching a team, I certainly want the opposition to think twice about skating through the middle like that.
The kid will be fine, let’s not start petitioning physicality out of the game just because a young star got the bad end of a heavy clean hit.