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Jason Dickinson noticed the hit, however he couldn’t foresee the impression.
Throughout Friday’s 4-2 highway loss to the New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard took a tough hit from Devils defenseman Brendan Smith and skated off the ice on the Prudential Middle holding his face.
[ [Don’t miss] Connor Bedard’s rookie season: Monitoring the targets of the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 decide ]
“I used to be extra afraid of a concussion, that’s what I used to be considering,” Dickinson stated. “I used to be like, ‘Ah, he’s holding his face. He will need to have gotten rattled, like, in his head. Didn’t assume jaw in any respect.”
The information got here down later that night time within the area: Bedard suffered a fractured jaw and would go on injured reserve. The harm occurred about 24 hours after Bedard, the No. 1 decide within the draft, was named an NHL All-Star.
“Connor was simply actually upset final night time,” Dickinson stated after follow Saturday at Fifth Third Enviornment. “That’s just about all I talked to him about was simply staying optimistic and being OK with the place he’s at.”
And there was extra unhealthy information.
Linemate Nick Foligno suffered a fractured finger on his left hand whereas scrapping with Smith in protection of Bedard.
“Nick, additionally simply extraordinarily annoyed and rattled that it occurred as a result of — I don’t know what number of fights he’s been on this yr, however in fact this (is) one which he goes and will get harm,” Dickinson stated. “He’s robust, so I don’t assume it’ll maintain him out very lengthy.
“As quickly as he’s robust sufficient to carry a stick, I’m certain he’ll be on the market with us.”
Added Lukas Reichel: “It’s robust to see. They’re an enormous piece of our crew and actually good gamers.”
Coach Luke Richardson couldn’t pin both to an estimated timeline.
“(Bedard’s) simply having that taken care of now, and we’re unsure how lengthy him and Nick shall be,” he stated.
The Hawks aren’t simply attempting to summon power proper now, they’re looking for our bodies.
5 Hawks have been injured throughout the five-game journey: Taylor Raddysh (left groin pressure, Dec. 29 in Dallas), Tyler Johnson (proper foot, Sunday in Dallas), Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist, Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn.), and Bedard and Foligno on Friday in New Jersey.
That’s to not point out three prime contributors who’re nonetheless on IR: Seth Jones, Andreas Athanasiou and Joey Anderson.
All however Jones are forwards.
“I by no means seen something like that,” Reichel stated. “Not even simply that highway journey. I imply the entire season. I’d have by no means seen so many accidents.”
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Dickinson described the temper on the airplane trip residence.
“Truthfully, it was simply shock virtually and disbelief that we are able to’t get by means of a recreation, we are able to’t get by means of a complete highway journey. It’s loopy,” he stated. “We misplaced, what was it, 4 guys on this highway journey? Was it 5? As a lot because it sucks dropping that recreation final night time, we don’t know what else to say on the finish of the day. We simply can’t keep wholesome, we are able to’t hold guys on the ice. So the vibe was simply shock.
“Final yr was troublesome — we thought. Looks as if nothing in comparison with this now. I imply, you’ll be able to’t actually pin it. It’s not one factor or little continual issues or issues from over-fatigue or issues which have sort of been overworked or something. They’re massive.
“Radds might be the one hockey harm that’s regular, the groin harm. Every part else is substantial and time. It’s not per week. It’s weeks and extra.”
The Hawks on Saturday acquired ahead Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2026 conditional seventh-round draft decide.
However in all practicality, Dickinson and Richardson are left to steer a battered roster that features current call-ups from Rockford and in Jaycob Megna’s case, a waiver declare.
The Hawks may need to go along with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen out of necessity.
“We’re at all times trying and looking out, however that’s an ongoing course of for administration,” Richardson stated. “Everybody’s a bit of banged up from numerous hockey, and now we have numerous hockey to go right here earlier than our break to get a bit of relaxation. Now we have to attempt to handle that drawback.”
Listed below are 5 issues we realized about Bedard — in addition to the subsequent steps for the Hawks — on Saturday.
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Richardson didn’t delve into particulars in regards to the severity of Bedard’s harm or the precise location of the fracture.
However Richardson is greater than acquainted with damaged jaws. He had one in his enjoying days and, as a coach, he handled defenseman’s Jarred Tinordi damaged jaw final winter.
“I’m assuming he must have some sort of wiring or safety for not numerous motion,” Richardson stated of Bedard. “It’s not prefer it was the place it’s wired tightly shut. They often put cribs in on the highest and the underside, and so they put rubber bands so you’ll be able to solely open it a bit of bit. … So I feel it helps extra within the restoration.”
Richardson cautioned that each damaged bone heals in a different way primarily based on the participant — his jaw “broke proper in half. Two plates and 15 screws. Set off the alarms and metallic detectors.”
After taking a slap shot to the face throughout a recreation in opposition to the Dallas Stars on Dec. 21, 2005, when Richardson was with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was wired “about 5 1/2 weeks and needed to put on a cage after that, too, simply to forestall extra injury.
“It’s healed sufficient that it’s stronger than it was earlier than, however you continue to need to let it not have a first-contact blow. So (Bedard will) in all probability put on some sort of cage or jaw safety when he comes again.”
“It’s a troublesome lesson, however the league’s robust,” Richardson stated.
The coach famous that Bedard simply might’ve had an encounter the sport earlier than with headhunter New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba, notorious for a collision final season that left Andreas Athanasiou hospitalized.
Bedard has realized from earlier hits to maintain his head on a swivel, however Richardson wasn’t certain that’s the case right here.
“I don’t know if he actually put himself in a foul spot,” he stated. “The puck simply acquired away from him forward of him a bit of bit and actually it wasn’t a blindsided blow. I feel it simply caught him in the proper spot. Typically when you have your mouth open, respiration, it’s in a weak place and extra inclined to these accidents.
“And that’s an enormous man. (Bedard) ran facefirst into his shoulder, however he wasn’t actually shifting ahead an excessive amount of. He simply sort of stood up however he wasn’t coming at him 25 miles an hour the opposite approach or sideways. That’s a very good factor.”
After the sport, Boris Katchouk known as Smith’s play “soiled.”
“I don’t assume it was malice,” Richardson stated. “He simply tried to tuck his elbow in and take the physique and cease him greater than hit him. You simply noticed the dimensions distinction there.”
Earlier than Friday’s recreation, Bedard spoke for the primary time about being named the youngest participant in historical past chosen to the NHL All-Star roster.
“It’s thrilling and one thing you watch rising up,” he stated.
A couple of hours later, he was knocked out of the sport, and his harm casts severe doubt he’ll be capable to take part within the league showcase in Toronto from Feb. 1-3.
“The entire occasion is like such a cool factor,” Reichel stated. “And but, it’s unhappy to see it as he will get injured now and I can’t take part. … So many followers are going to be upset, too, that he’s not on the ice.”
Richardson stated the league in all probability would nonetheless need him across the festivities of All-Star weekend.
“He won’t be capable to take part but it surely’d be good for him to get to go,” he stated.
Then there’s simply the emotional impression for Bedard, who generally must be ordered off the ice.
“It’s horrible,” Ryan Donato stated. “He’s a child that loves being across the rink, being across the recreation. Taking that away from him I’m certain is an enormous blow to him and to us. It’s positively laborious to wrap our heads round.”
Reichel stated he noticed Bedard after the harm and “I simply give him a bit of clap on the leg, only a heads up. You already know, come again robust.”
Richardson noticed Bedard briefly throughout each intermissions, “and he was getting undressed to get checked out and simply requested him if he was OK, and he sort of checked out me like he was OK, however he wasn’t OK.
“I don’t know the way he’s. He hasn’t been right here right this moment. I feel he went to see docs right this moment (Saturday) on the hospital. We’ll in all probability get extra information on him tomorrow.”
Regardless of the prognosis, Richardson advises Bedard to lean on teammates to assist cope whereas he works by means of his restoration.
“He’ll be capable to be on the ice,” Richardson stated. “That’ll be good for him as a result of it’ll get numerous that stressed vitality that he’s going to have. He likes to be with the crew, likes to be on the ice. It’s a blow and he’s younger.
“He’s going to wish his teammates and his household greater than ever to assist him and luxury him.”
“Train and wine,” Richardson quipped.
Reichel checked out a stall in Fifth Third Enviornment: “We sit subsequent to one another right here. We speak rather a lot about hockey. I imply, we see one another every single day in follow. So yeah, it’s simply robust to see that he’s not enjoying. It’s positively disappointing.”
Dickinson fought feelings whereas describing the airplane trip again from Newark, N.J.
“It was simply totally different,” he stated. “Like a few us are simply sitting there speaking about every part. We snort, like, what else is there to do? It’s simply comical at this level that our bodies simply hold dropping for us and we are able to’t catch a break.
“So what else do you do however snort at it? That is simply unbelievable, proper?”
Added Richardson: “We had just a bit assembly this morning and put it into their heads that they need to imagine.”
To that time, gamers stated they’ll huddle up if the crew wants it, if gamers lose confidence. Donato stated gamers down the depth chart need to step up and notice their alternatives.
“We’ve had so many accidents, however you’ll be able to’t really feel sorry for your self,” he stated. “There’s groups which might be going by means of accidents as nicely and groups which have up to now.
“So we’re going to depend on the fellows which have been round a bit and their expertise. … You may’t fear about who’s in or out of the lineup, you’ve simply acquired to be able to play.”
Dickinson surveyed the locker room for a couple of teammates who’re nonetheless on injured reserve however skated Friday, and he wished out loud: “Hope that the fellows that have been right here (at follow) are rather a lot nearer than I believed they have been, as a result of we want reinforcements.
“We want anyone at this level, as a result of it’s skinny,” he stated. “It’s laborious on numerous guys. We have been enjoying 10 forwards for many of the recreation final night time. We want guys to step up and assist steer the ship now.”
The Hawks shipped in a few reinforcements Saturday: Pitlick and fellow ahead Zach Sanford.
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Pitlick, 26, had eight targets and 16 assists in 32 video games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. He has recorded 21 targets and 33 assists in 123 regular-season NHL video games for the Nashville Predators (2019-21), Minnesota Wild (2021-22) and Montreal Canadiens (2022-23).
“We’re hoping to get him in tonight and play tomorrow,” Richardson stated. “I do know him a bit of bit from Montreal. Lots of pace and he’s a personality man. He’s not an enormous man (5-foot-11, 202 kilos) however he has pace and expertise enjoying within the league.
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“That’ll be a very good enhance simply to have somebody who I do know a bit of bit, however I feel that may add totally different dimensions.”
Sanford’s addition was introduced after follow. He was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes. Sanford (6-4, 206 kilos) skated in 11 video games and tallied two assists for the Coyotes this season.
The 29-year-old has racked up 49 targets and 51 assists in 316 regular-season NHL video games, break up between the Washington Capitals (2016-17), St. Louis Blues (2017-21), Ottawa Senators (2021-22), Winnipeg Jets (2022), Nashville Predators (2022-23) and Coyotes (2023-24).
As for a number of veterans who’ve been on the shelf, the Hawks can see gentle on the finish of the tunnel.
Dickinson stated seeing Jones, Anderson and Raddysh skating — these aforementioned veterans who’re on IR — offered a raise for the crew, though at this stage they’re solely skating for conditioning.
“All people, as quickly as we noticed them stroll within the room, it was like, ‘The way you doing? The way you feeling? How shut do you assume you’re? Are you able to push it a bit of?’ ” Dickinson stated.
“We’re positively excited and hopeful that their development continues to go nicely.”