Chicago's injury woes may have been the worst in the NHL this season. With Bedard sidelined, the Blackhawks have upped their team game and defense, but can't score.
Connor Bedard's fractured jaw sure seemed like the coup de grâce in a string of bad breaks the injury-plagued Chicago Blackhawks have sustained this season.
Bedard tangles with Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in a game at EdmontonBedard remains the NHL's leading rookie scorer heading into the Blackhawks' bye week and the NHL All-Star Game despite getting hurt on Jan. 5 in New Jersey and missing Chicago's last 12 games. Bedard has 15 goals and 33 points in 39 contests, still ahead of Minnesota rookie defenseman Brock Faber (4-25-29) and Wild first-year center Marco Rossi (13-15-28).
Bedard was named the youngest All-Star in NHL history on Jan. 4, one day before Devils defenseman Brendan Smith nailed him in the face with an open ice hit that led to surgery a few days later. Bedard won't be able to participate on the ice in the All-Star weekend in Toronto, although he's been skating in Chicago. Even while wearing a full polycarbonate shield, he can't clench his jaw hard, let alone be hit, while it heals.
Bedard never looked as bad as Blackhawks late Keith Magnuson did after he suffered a broken jaw.It remains to be seen if the NHL summons Bedard to Toronto for a cameo appearance this weekend. The 2023 first-overall draft pick was becoming one of the new faces of the league and living up to the hype.
So how have the Blackhawks fared with and without their 18-year-old generational talent? Actually about the same. Keep in mind, the Blackhawks have had a lengthy list of injuries all season.
Heading into the 4-2 loss at New Jersey on Jan. 5, the Blackhawks were:
- Record: 11-25-2, 24 points.
- 88 goals for, 144 goal against. Game averages: 2.31 goals for and 3.78 goals against.
- 1,002 shots for, 1,262 shots against. Game averages 26.4 shots for and 33.2 shot against.
- Power play: 12.7%. Penalty killing: 72.7 %.
In the next 12 games, including the loss at New Jersey (Bedard was hurt in the first period), the Blackhawks without Bedard have:
- Record: 3-9-0, six points.
- 17 goals for 33 goals against. Game averages: 1.42 goals for and 2.75 goals against.
- 319 shots for, 356 shots against. Game averages: 26.5 shots for and 29.7 shots against
- Power play: 11.4 % Penalty killing: 86.1 %.
Goalie Petr Mrazek has been terrific.The Blackhawks have improved their structure, work habits and defensive coverage with Bedard out. But Chicago simply can't score.
Resurgent goaltender Petr Mrazek, signed to a two-year contract extension, has been terrific now that's he's put nagging groin injuries behind him. Mrazek, who turns 32 on Valentine's Day, is just 3-6-0 in his last nine starts, but has a 2.02 goals-against average and .932 save percentage during the span.
The Blackhawks were shut out by Edmonton, 3-0, and Calgary, 1-0, in their final two games before the break as their road losing streak reached a team record 20 games. (0-19-1). Chicago has been blanked in three of four games and four of six.
Coach Luke Richardson talked about it following the loss to the Flames on Jan. 27. See video.
Richardson was planning to head to Napa Valley, California where he could enjoy wine and exercise in a non-hockey environment for a few days.
Chicago hopes to get a boost by Bedard's return, possibly in late February or early March. Richardson, who suffered a broken jaw himself as a defenseman, said it's a matter of how scans show Bedard is healing.
Still out are:
- Taylor Hall, the former Hart Trophy winner, is shelved for the season after right ACL surgery in November. Hall was acquired to help Bedard the way he meshed with 2017 top draft pick Nico Hischier in New Jersey, but suffered the injury on Nov. 9 in Tampa Bay at the end of Bedard's first multi-point game in the NHL.
- Speedy Andreas Athanasiou, one of Chicago two returning 20-goal scorers, has been sidelined by a mysterious groin injury since Nov. 9.
- Veteran Tyler Johnson has been out with a right foot injury since New Year's Eve.
- Forward Anthony Beauvillier, acquired from Vancouver on Nov. 28 — the day Corey Perry was released — is on IR with a left wrist injury sustained on Jan. 2 in Nashville.
- Veteran defenseman Connor Murphy has been out since Jan. 13 with a groin injury.
- D-man Nikita Zaitsev went on IR after suffering a knee injury on Jan. 16 in Chicago's nine-round, 2-1 shootout win over San Jose.
Johnson, Beauvillier and Murphy may be close to returning and could be back in practice on Feb. 5. The Blackhawks's next game is at home on Feb. 7 versus Minnesota.