Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno says New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith "plays the game the right way."
Still, Smith's open ice hit on Connor Bedard — one that broke the rookie's jaw in the first period of a 4-2 Chicago loss on Jan. 5 — required a response. The 36-year-old Foligno provided it by duking it out with Smith in a protracted fight in the second period.
"You know what? You can argue it's a clean hit," said Foligno, who's recovering from a broken left ring finger he sustained in the slug-out. "It's our best player. So he's going after our best player, right?"
With Chicago on a power play, Bedard entered the New Jersey zone just to the right side of the slot. The puck was sliding off the NHL rookie scoring leader's stick as he skated between Erik Haula and Dawson Mercer.
Smith, a solid stay-at-home 34-year-old D-man in his 13th NHL season, stepped up and decked Bedard with a shoulder to the mouth area. Bedard fell to the ice, then popped up and skated straight to the dressing room at 10:49 of the opening frame.
"I think he's an honest player, Smith," Foligno said. "I have a ton of respect for him.
"But he targeted one of our players who was in a vulnerable spot at that time and I'm watching it. So I can see him sliding over to make a hit.
"I wonder what their reaction would be if we did that to (Jack) Hughes or anything?" Foligno continued."That's the game within the game. No ill will towards Smith and he's doing his job for his team, but we're going to do that job for ours as well and back up our own." See following video.
New Contract for Foligno
Foligno signed a new two-year,$9 million contract with Chicago on Friday. A captain for Columbus for six of his 17 years in the NHL, he was acquired from Boston on June 26, 2023 — two days before the Blackhawks made Bedard the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft.
Veteran leadership, including standing up for Bedard and other Chicago prospects, was a big part of the job description for Foligno.
He's delivered big-time as an alternate captain this season. No Blackhawk is wearing a "C" on their jersey in 2023-24 after long-time captain Jonathan Toews left the sport in April.
Foligno's reply to Smith's hit on Bedard was a prime example.
"Especially a young kid whose finding his way in this league and our star player," Foligno said. "You gotta' make sure he feels protected and looked after and so that's all that is."
Other Blackhawks were ready to step up and engage Smith, Foligno said.
"It happened to be me," he said. "It could have been any one of the guys who was chomping at the bit to get at him."