The loss of top NHL rookie scoring leader Bedard and veteran leader Foligno on Friday at New Jersey left Chicago looking for healthy bodies. Story with videos.
The injury-ravaged and sliding Chicago Blackhawks claimed forward Zach Sanford off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes and acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade on Saturday.
Zach Sanford while with Nashville.The Blackhawks are reeling — and desperate for healthy NHL-caliber players — after the loss of NHL rookie scorer Connor Bedard to a fractured jaw and de facto captain Nick Foligno to a broken left finger in Friday's 4-2 loss at New Jersey.
Chicago enters Sunday's game against Calgary on a five-game losing streak (0-4-1). The Blackhawks have dropped 11 of their last 13 (2-10-1).
The 29-year-old Sanford has played in nine games with Arizona this season, posting two assists. In 316 career NHL contests with six teams, the 6-foot-4, 206-pound native of Salem, Massachusetts has 49 goals and 100 points.
Rem Pitlick (right) in action with Montréal.Pitlick was acquired for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in 2026. The 26 year-old was playing for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL this season, but has 21 goals and 54 points in 123 career NHL games with three teams.
Chicago Decimated by Wave of Injuries
Over its just-completed five-game road trip, Chicago lost five of its top-9 forwards.
- Winger Taylor Raddysh, one of two Blackhawks 20-goal scorers last season, suffered a groin injury on his first shift at Dallas on Dec. 29. He resumed skating after practice on Saturday.
- Forward Tyler Johnson went down with a right foot injury against the Stars on New Year's Eve. The veteran is on IR, but on Saturday coach Luke Richardson hinted Johnson's condition is fairly straightforward and he could return soon.
- Forward Anthony Beauvillier suffered a left wrist injury in an awkward collision with Filip Forsberg in Nashville on Jan. 2 and also is on IR. Beauvillier was acquired from Vancouver on Nov. 28 hours after the Blackhawks released veteran Corey Perry for violating team policies.
- Then Bedard was knocked out of action – likely with a need for surgery and for several weeks – on a hit by Brendan Smith in the first period on Friday. Foligno broke his finger fighting Smith in a response in the second.
"We lost, what was it four guys on this road trip? Was it five?" center Jason Dickinson said. "As much as it sucks losing that game last night, we don't know what to say at the end of the day.
"We need reinforcements. We need anybody at this point because it's thin." See video.
Forward Ryan Donato said the Blackhawks just have to embrace a next-man-up mentality and soldier on.
"I don't think I've ever seen something like this happen where guys go down and it's not little things," Donato said. "Hopefully we can get 'em back as soon as they're ready.
"In the meantime, we've got to find a way to win games."
And Chicago most recent injury wave is on top of the loss of:
- Former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall for the season after right ACL surgery in November.
- Speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou with a lingering groin injury since Nov. 9. He also scored goals last season.
- Top defenseman Seth Jones with a shoulder injury on Dec. 10 versus Washington. He skated after practice on Saturday.
- Forward Joey Anderson with a lower-body injury since Dec. 17. He also skated after practice on Saturday.
Even Chicago's top AHL forward prospect, Colton Dach, is in concussion protocol. Playing with Rockford, Dach was tackled from behind after a whistle by former QMJHL goon Zachary L'Heureux — whose name translates to the "happy one."