Chicago Blackhawks rookie forward Connor Bedard suffered an injury during Monday’s game against the New Jersey Devils and did not return to the ice. The exact details of his injury were not immediately provided by the team. Chicago coach Luke Richardson mentioned that Bedard would be evaluated further after returning home. This latest setback adds to the mounting injury list for the Blackhawks, which already includes several key players.
Bedard’s injury occurred in the first period when he was hit hard by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith while attempting to navigate through their defense. The impact of the hit caused Bedard to fall to the ice, and he immediately reached for his face in pain. Despite briefly getting back on his feet, Bedard headed straight to the dressing room for further assessment.
In addition to Bedard, the Blackhawks also lost forward Nick Foligno during the game. Foligno exited the match after engaging in a fight with Smith during the second period. The team announced that Foligno would not return, adding another blow to their lineup.
Chicago forward Boris Katchouk expressed his belief that Smith’s hit on Bedard was a dirty play. However, Richardson refrained from placing blame, stating that he had not yet reviewed the incident in detail. Richardson speculated that Bedard might not have seen Smith coming as he reached for the puck.
Despite these injuries, Richardson praised the team’s cohesion and support for one another. He commended Foligno for standing up for Bedard and rallying the team. The Blackhawks’ injury reserve list continues to grow, with notable absentees such as Taylor Hall, Seth Jones, Tyler Johnson, Taylor Raddysh, Anthony Beauvillier, Joey Anderson, and Andreas Athanasiou.
Bedard’s injury is a significant setback for the 18-year-old rookie, who was named to the NHL All-Star Game just days before. He has been a standout performer for the Blackhawks this season, contributing 15 goals and 18 assists in 39 games.
In summary, Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard left Monday’s game against the New Jersey Devils due to an injury sustained from a hit by Brendan Smith. Bedard’s condition remains uncertain, as does his potential return to the ice. This latest injury adds to the growing list of sidelined players for the Blackhawks, inevitably impacting their performance in upcoming games.