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Blackhawks' Connor Bedard has fractured jaw after monster hit by Devils' Brendan Smith
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- Blackhawks' Connor Bedard has fractured jaw after monster hit by Devils' Brendan Smith
Chicago Blackhawks star rookie Connor Bedard left Friday night's game with a fractured jaw after a hard hit.
He was skating between two New Jersey players midway through the first period when 6-foot-2 Devils defenseman Brendan Smith hit the 5-10 center. Bedard was rubbing his jaw as he skated to the dressing room.
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No penalty was called on the clean, hard hit, but Chicago's Nick Foligno and Smith got roughing minors as Blackhawks players went after the defenseman. Those two players fought later in the game.
The Blackhawks announced the extent of Bedard's injury on Saturday. They also announced that Foligno has a fractured finger.
The team announced Wednesday that Bedard had jaw surgery and would miss six to eight weeks.
Bedard, 18, was taken No. 1 overall in the 2023 draft after being labeled a generational talent for years.
He hasn't disappointed, leading the Blackhawks and all rookies with 15 goals, 18 assists and 33 points. He has scored highlight-reel goals, including a lacrosse-style one .
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The NHL named him rookie of the month in November and December, and he was named Thursday as the Blackhawks' representative to next month's All-Star Game in Toronto . The Blackhawks' announced timeline means he would miss the game.
Smith and Foligno later engaged in a long fight right off a faceoff during the second period. Foligno left the game after the fight and didn't return.
Bedard and Foligno were placed on the injured list.
The Blackhawks also announced Saturday that they had acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2026 seventh-round pick. Pitlick, 26, who has 54 points in 123 career NHL games, had been playing this season for the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate.
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They also claimed forward Zach Sanford (two points in 11 games) off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blackhawks' Connor Bedard has fractured jaw after Brendan Smith hit
