Blackhawks put Bedard on IR with fractured jaw

Chicago Blackhawks rookie sensation Connor Bedard fractured his jaw Friday night and has been placed on injured reserve.

Bedard left in the first period of a 4-2 loss at the New Jersey Devils after a hit by defenseman Brendan Smith. He was evaluated Saturday morning by Chicago specialists after the team returned home.

Nick Foligno also went on IR with a fractured left finger, adding another name to Chicago’s long list of injured forwards. In desperate need of reinforcements, the Blackhawks added a pair of forwards by acquiring Rem Pitlick in a trade with Pittsburgh and claiming Zach Sanford off waivers from Arizona.

“We’re not sure how long [Bedard] and Nick will be,” coach Luke Richardson said. “It’s just so fresh today, this morning, to get our people to look at them and make decisions going forward.”

Added teammate Jason Dickinson: “Connor was just really upset last night. That’s pretty much all I talked to him about, was just staying positive and being OK with where he’s at.”

Bedard, 18, leads all NHL rookies in goals (15) and assists (18) in 39 games this season. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft also leads rookie forwards in average ice time (19:04).

Following his selection this week, Bedard could be the youngest player ever in the NHL All-Star Game at 18 years, 201 days, topping a record set by Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner (18 years, 259 days) in 2011. The All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 3.

Bedard was injured on his fourth shift of the game when he skated over the Devils’ blue line during a Blackhawks power play. As he stickhandled into the zone, he was met with a shoulder check from Smith. Bedard fell to the ice and immediately clutched his jaw. He left the game at 9:11 of the first period as Foligno, Brett Seney and several teammates ignited a skirmish with Smith behind the Devils’ net.

Foligno, who has served as one of Bedard’s mentors in the veteran’s first season in Chicago, left the game after he fought with Smith in the second.

“I don’t know how many fights he’s been in this year, but of course it’s this one that he goes and gets hurt,” Dickinson said. “He’s tough, so I don’t think it’ll hold him out very long. As soon as he’s strong enough to hold a stick I’m sure he’ll be out there with us.”

Asked if he felt the hit was dirty, Richardson said Friday night, “I think Connor was reaching for a puck and didn’t see him, because he was behind one of their players. I don’t think he stepped up on Connor. I think he kind of stopped and Connor ran headfirst into him. I don’t think there was intent [to injure]. I think he was just playing hard on the blue line and trying to keep the puck out on the penalty kill.”

Devils coach Lindy Ruff agreed that he didn’t see intent on Smith’s hit.

“I just think it’s a good hit,” Ruff said. “It’s unfortunate where he got him. You don’t want to see that. I think at different times all young players learn that there’s different areas where you’ve got to be to be aware. There’s no intent. It’s just a solid hit.”

The Blackhawks’ next game is Sunday at home against the Calgary Flames. They face Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday in what was hoped to be the “Connor vs. Connor” rematch after the two faced off for the first time ever Dec. 12.

Bedard and Foligno join a long list of injured players for last-place Chicago.

Fellow forwards Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist), Tyler Johnson (right foot), Taylor Raddysh (left groin strain), Joey Anderson (left shoulder) and Andreas Athanasiou (groin) are also out. Taylor Hall will miss the rest of the season after he had right knee surgery in November.

Seth Jones, the team’s best defenseman, is on IR with a shoulder injury. He hasn’t played since Dec. 10.

“As soon as we seem to find a little bit of something, someone goes down,” Richardson said. “It’s definitely a challenge.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.