Connor Bedard suffers injury with visit to Rogers Arena just around ...

6 Jan 2024

The Province

Chicago didn't announce a timeline for a Bedard return but a broken jaw generally sidelines a player for six weeks.

Connor Bedard - Figure 1 — Photo The Province

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Published Jan 06, 2024 • Last updated 4 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Chicago Blackhawks Luke Richardson says that the rookie sensation will be evaluated Saturday after leaving Friday's game against the New Jersey Devils in the first period following a hit to the head Photo by Paul Sancya /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Connor Bedard’s upcoming first visit to Rogers Arena to face the Vancouver Canucks is very much in doubt now with the Chicago Blackhawks announcing Saturday morning that they were putting the rookie phenom from North Vancouver on injured reserve due to a broken jaw.

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Connor Bedard - Figure 2 — Photo The Province

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Chicago’s here on Jan. 22, kicking off a four-game Western swing. The Canucks were Bedard’s favourite team growing up; he’s talked about crying for a week after the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

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Chicago didn’t announce a timeline for a Bedard return but a broken jaw generally sidelines a player for six weeks.

The Canucks beat the Blackhawks 4-3 in Chicago on Dec. 17. Bedard had two assists.

Bedard was hurt Friday, when the Blackhawks were visiting the New Jersey Devils. Bedard was crossing into the offensive zone when he was checked high by Devils defenceman Brendan Smith. He left the game immediately, holding a hand to his mouth.

Smith didn’t get a penalty on the play. He did fight Chicago veteran forward Nick Foligno in the second period.

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Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard falls to the ice after being checked by New Jersey Devils defenceman Brendan Smith (2) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Newark, N.J. Photo by Adam Hunger /AP Photo

Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson told reporters afterwards that Bedard would be evaluated Saturday when the team returned to Chicago.

Bedard was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and leads the Blackhawks in scoring with 33 points, including 15 goals. He was named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game on Thursday. The game is Feb. 3, so that’s in question for Bedard as well now.

“Well, I think he obviously banged his head, but I’m not sure,” Richardson said. “I just got in there now and haven’t heard anything other than everybody’s coming home tonight, everybody’s fine to come home and we’ll get him checked out at home.

“ … [The trainers] didn’t say that he’s got a concussion, but we’ll just wait until we get home and checked out thoroughly.”

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Richardson told reporters that “I don’t know if it was dirty.”

“I think Connor was reaching for a puck and didn’t see him because he was behind another one of their players,” he continued “I don’t think he stepped up on him. I just think he kind of stopped and Connor ran headfirst right into him.”

Chicago winger Boris Katchouk believed otherwise, saying: “Everybody saw it. It’s dirty. I think that’s dirty.”

@SteveEwen

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