Chicago rookie Connor Bedard suffered a broken jaw and has been placed on injured reserve after he departed Friday night’s NHL game against New Jersey following a hit by Devils defenceman Brendan Smith in the first period.
Bedard was hit by Smith at 10:49 of the first period after he carried the puck into the offensive zone. Bedard then skated to the bench holding his face as Nick Foligno, Brett Seney and several teammates ignited a skirmish with Smith behind the Devils net.
The 18-year-old Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, went straight to the dressing room and didn’t return.
