Bedard Placed on IR, Hawks Recall Help

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed forward Connor Bedard on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, retroactive to December 12, the team announced in a press release.

To fill the roster spots, the Blackhawks recalled defenseman Ethan Del Mastro and goaltender Laurent Brossoit from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

Bedard’s placement on injured reserve sidelines Chicago’s top offensive player for at least the next week. The 19-year-old remains a central part of the Blackhawks’ offense, logging heavy minutes and driving play in all situations. His absence forces Chicago to rely more heavily on depth scoring and structured team play moving forward.

Del Mastro, 22, has appeared in one game with the Blackhawks during the 2025–26 season. With Rockford, he has recorded 11 points (1 goal, 10 assists) in 27 games, ranking second among IceHogs defensemen in both assists and points. His recall adds size and stability to a blue line that has been tested by injuries and workload.

Brossoit, 32, was recalled following a conditioning assignment with Rockford. In three AHL games this season, he posted a 2–1–0 record, a .900 save percentage, and a 3.39 goals-against average. He also scored the first goal of his professional career on December 12 against Milwaukee. The veteran provides additional depth in goal as the Blackhawks manage a busy stretch of games.

The Blackhawks begin a three-game road trip through Canada on Tuesday night, starting against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Chicago will then travel to Montreal on Thursday and Ottawa on Saturday before returning home.

With Bedard sidelined, the upcoming road trip will test the Blackhawks’ depth, structure, and ability to compete without their primary offensive driver.