The Chicago Blackhawks made a flurry of roster moves Monday morning, headlined by the news that star forward Connor Bedard has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, retroactive to December 12. The timing follows a tough moment at the end of Friday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, when Bedard took a cross-check from Brayden Schenn during the final faceoff and went down hard, appearing to favor his shoulder as he made a quick exit to the locker room.
It’s a frustrating development for both Bedard and the Blackhawks. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has been electric through the first 31 games of this season, tallying 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points.
Now in his third NHL campaign, Bedard has already stacked up 64 goals and 108 assists in 181 regular-season appearances - numbers that speak to just how much of a focal point he’s become for this franchise. His absence, even if short-term, leaves a major hole in Chicago’s top six and power play unit.
To help fill the gaps, the Blackhawks recalled goaltender Laurent Brossoit and defenseman Ethan Del Mastro from the Rockford IceHogs, their AHL affiliate.
For Brossoit, this recall marks a potential turning point in what’s been a long road back to the NHL. The 32-year-old netminder hasn’t appeared in an NHL game since the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Winnipeg Jets.
After signing a two-year, $6.6 million deal with Chicago in July 2024, Brossoit underwent meniscus surgery and missed the entire 2024-25 season. He’s played just three games in the AHL so far this year, posting a 2-1-0 record with a .900 save percentage and a 3.39 goals-against average - not eye-popping numbers, but a necessary step in getting back up to NHL speed.
When healthy, Brossoit has shown he can be a strong presence in net. During his last full NHL season, he went 15-5-2 with a stellar .927 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA in 23 games.
Over parts of 10 NHL seasons, he’s compiled a 64-46-13 record with a .911 SV% and 2.64 GAA across 140 games with Chicago, Winnipeg, Vegas, and Edmonton. He also brings championship experience to the locker room, having won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023.
On the blue line, Del Mastro gets another look with the big club. The 22-year-old defenseman has been steady in Rockford this season, putting up one goal and 10 assists in 27 games. He’s already appeared in one NHL game this season and continues to show signs of development as a two-way defender.
A fourth-round pick in 2021, Del Mastro has logged 143 AHL games across three seasons, recording eight goals and 49 assists. He’s also seen action in 27 NHL games, where he’s chipped in two goals and four assists. With Bedard out and roster spots in flux, this call-up gives Del Mastro another chance to prove he belongs on the NHL stage.
For the Blackhawks, these moves are about more than just plugging holes - they’re part of a larger balancing act between short-term needs and long-term development. Bedard’s injury is a tough blow, no doubt, but it also opens the door for players like Brossoit and Del Mastro to step in and make an impact.