Chicago’s NHL team placed rookie center Connor Bedard on injured reserve Saturday after suffering a broken jaw.
Bedard was injured during the first period of Friday night’s 4-2 loss to the Devils when New Jersey defenseman Brendan Smith hit the game-tying shot.
Nick Foligno also went on IR with a broken finger on his left hand, adding another name to Chicago’s long list of injured forwards. In desperate need of reinforcements, the club acquired forward Rem Pitlick from Pittsburgh as a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Bedard, 18, lived up to the hype after being selected No. 1 overall in last year’s draft and became Chicago’s best player in his first NHL season. Heading into Saturday’s game, he had a team-high 15 goals and 18 assists in 39 games, leading all NHL rookies.
Bedard has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game to be held in Toronto on February 3rd, and Chicago will play in his hometown of Vancouver on January 22nd. There was no immediate word on when Bedard would return. Puck into the offensive zone.
Smith was not penalized on the play, but a series of skirmishes broke out between the teams after Bedard was ejected. Foligno, who served as one of Bedard’s mentors during Bedard’s first season in Chicago, left the game after playing against Smith in his second season.
After this hit by Brendan Smith, Connor Bedard headed to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/OUZyKCBCRx
Chicago has lost seven of five of 27 games under second-year coach Luke Richardson, falling to 6-19-2.
Chicago forward Boris Katyuk told reporters he felt it was a dirty hit, but Richardson wasn’t convinced.
“I haven’t seen much yet,” the coach said. “I just saw it on the bench a little bit. I don’t know if it was dirty or not. Connor was reaching for the puck, but I don’t think he saw it because he was behind the players. I don’t think he stepped on it,” he said. , I think Connor hit him head-on.
“He obviously hit his head. He will be examined at home by a specialist to make sure everything is okay.”
#Devils Smith, the big D-man, lowered his elbows, didn’t pick his head, didn’t leave his hands on his feet, a textbook open-ice hit. #Blackhawks Bedard, a high value player, the impact and results are very disappointing.
It’s a clean hit. period. End of story. It’s still a disappointing result, but 100%… pic.twitter.com/nllhve5674
“That was a sure hit.”
Devils bench boss Lindy Ruff felt Smith’s hit on Bedard was clean.
“It’s a shame where they got him,” Ruff said. “All young athletes learn at different times. … I learned the hard way, getting knocked out cold.
“I have to be careful. I didn’t have any intention. It was just a solid hit.”
After the All-Star forward left, a series of skirmishes broke out between the teams.
Chicago defenseman Jared Tinordi exchanged words with Smith as the team took off the ice after the team’s first game.
Chicago defenseman Alex Vlasic also fought Devils forward Nathan Bastian as part of the on-ice riot that brought most of the Prudential Center crowd to their feet.
At one point, Chicago had four players in their respective penalty boxes and the Devils had three.
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 Radish (left groin strain), Joey Anderson (left shoulder) and Andreas Athanasiou (groin) are also out. Taylor Hall will miss the rest of the season after undergoing right knee surgery in November.
Seth Jones, the team’s best rear guard, is on IR with a shoulder injury. He hasn’t played since December 10th.
Pitlick, 26, played in 123 regular season games with the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens, scoring 21 goals and 54 points. He has eight goals and 24 points in 32 games this season with Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the American Hockey League.
The deal gives the Penguins nine picks in the 2026 draft.
Pittsburgh has all seven draft picks, plus Chicago’s conditional seventh-round pick and an additional third-round pick acquired on Aug. 6 as part of a trade involving the San Jose Sharks and defenseman Erik Karlsson. He also owns the right of nomination.