On the evening of January 5th, after Brendan Smith’s hit forced him out of the Blackhawks-Devils game, rising star rookie Connor Bedard found himself fixated on Zdeno Chara. Chara,
a legendary Bruins defenseman, famously played through a broken jaw during the 2019 playoffs against the Blues. Bedard wondered why he couldn’t do the same.
“My face was numb, and my bite felt off,” Bedard recalled on Thursday. “That was the only thing. They told me it was broken, but I remembered Chara returning to play with a protective mask, so I didn’t initially think it was a big deal. However, I realized it wasn’t Game 7 of the Cup Final. I had to be patient and let it heal. It was tough.”
Hawks de facto captain Nick Foligno, who faced a similar situation after breaking his finger in a fight with Smith, chuckled at Bedard’s initial belief that a fractured jaw wouldn’t be a significant issue.
“He was a bit confused at first,” Foligno said. “But once he saw the X-rays, he understood. Still, he deserves credit. He worked tirelessly to get back on the ice. He’s determined to be the best, and setbacks won’t deter him. I’m proud of how he handled such a significant injury, especially early in his career.”
In the following weeks, Bedard pushed himself to the limit every day to accelerate his recovery. He underwent surgery on January 8th, resumed skating on January 15th, began participating in non-contact drills on February 6th, and remarkably returned to action on Thursday night against the Penguins, nearly a week ahead of schedule.
Initially cautious in the first period, Bedard regained his usual confidence in the second and third periods, tallying one assist and four shots on goal over 21 minutes of ice time in a 4-1 loss for the Hawks.
“It’s a positive because I’ve been skating for four weeks,” Bedard remarked. “I felt confident coming in. But sitting on the sidelines while feeling normal is frustrating. Thankfully, I could skate and train throughout the recovery.”
Bedard credited his family for their support during this challenging period. “My face was a bit swollen initially,” he explained. “But my jaw didn’t hurt much. One of my parents has been with me consistently this season, taking turns living with me in Chicago.
My mom helped me with a diet of smoothies and soups initially. As my jaw recovered, I gradually transitioned to a regular diet.”
Throughout his recovery, Bedard leaned on Blackhawks forward Anthony Beauvillier, who was rehabbing a broken wrist suffered on January 2nd. They trained together, commiserated, and motivated each other.
Looking ahead, Bedard is focused on getting back into rhythm, further developing as a player, and solidifying his lead in the Calder Trophy race over the final two months. He currently leads rookie scoring by one point.
Although Bedard will wear a protective bubble mask for some time, he isn’t fazed. “I’ve performed well with a mask before,” he said, recalling his success at the 2023 World Junior Championship. “It won’t be a problem.”
As Bedard continues to acclimate to NHL speed, his teammates recognize his potential impact. “He’s realizing he’s a pretty darn good player,” Foligno remarked. “When he plays his 200-foot game and understands the value of solid defense, he’s as good as anyone else in the league.”
