The Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have placed Connor Bedard and Nick Foligno on Injured Reserve. Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had his jaw fractured after a hit from New Jersey Devils' Brendan Smith during Friday's 4-2 loss for the Blackhawks.

Foligno then fractured his finger after getting in a fight with Smith in response to Bedard's injury.

Bedard's injury is a huge loss for the Blackhawks, since he is one of their best players already. He was having a great start to his rookie season, leading all rookies with 15 goals, 18 assists and a total of 33 points through 39 games. Prior to Friday's injury, the 18-year-old was the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award and had just been named to the All-Star game.

The injuries have piled up for the Blackhawks this season. With the additions of Bedard and Foligno, Chicago now has a total of nine players on IR. The Blackhawks have recently placed Seth Jones, Tyler Johnson, Taylor Raddysh, Joey Anderson and Anthony Beauvillier on IR within the past couple weeks. They also have Taylor Hall out for the season with a torn ACL and Andreas Athanasiou working through a groin injury that has kept him out the last two months, via the Chicago Sun Times.

After their fifth straight loss, coming at the hands of to Devils, the Blackhawks have dropped to 11-26-2 on the season. Chicago is deep in last place in the Central Division with 24 points. That mark is 12 points behind the Minnesota Wild, who is second-last in the division.