Brayden Schenn on Connor Bedard's injury: 'That wasn't my mentality at all'

Blues captain Brayden Schenn's young son, Huxley, is a big fan of Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. They even got a photo together in a hallway at an NHL summer camp in 2024.

So Schenn found it surprising and ironic when the vitriol of the Hawks' fan base turned on him after his involvement in the last-second faceoff that injured Bedard's right shoulder Dec. 12 in St. Louis.

"It's one of those things where it's unfortunate to see him go down, but it's crazy to see that people actually thought I was trying to hurt him," Schenn said Wednesday — ahead of the Hawks and Blues' first game since the incident.

The Hawks have repeatedly clarified they harbor no ill will toward Schenn. They consider it a normal play that led to a fluky accident. Hawks coach Jeff Blashill praised Schenn as a "great player" who "carries himself the right way" and "had nothing to do with the injury."

Upon review, it actually appeared Bedard might've already been dropping his stick in pain that night before Schenn hit Bedard from his left.

"There's 0.8 seconds left," Schenn explained. "I'm just trying to tie him up and win the faceoff to win the game. I'm not trying to hurt Connor Bedard on the last play of the game when you're up by one goal. That wasn't my mentality at all. It's unfortunate that he went down and missed some time, because he's having such a great year and is such a great player."

Schenn understands Hawks fans' mentality, though. It was also commendable that he willingly answered questions about the topic from Chicago-based reporters Wednesday.

"That's a fan base protecting their star player, which they should," he added. "Obviously, when people show up to Chicago Blackhawks games, they want to see Connor Bedard, and that gives them frustration."

Bedard’s progress

Bedard took another step forward Wednesday by participating in morning skate in a regular jersey and taking "a little more contact," as Blashill described it.

He didn't play against the Blues, but it still seems possible he could return as soon as this weekend.

Center cut

Hawks rookie forward Oliver Moore's shift from wing to center has worked wonders so far. Moore said Wednesday that coaches have actually shown him video clips of Bedard from earlier this season to model his game after.

"Ollie, without question, knows how to utilize his speed better in the middle than as a winger," Blashill said. "He’s more natural as a center that way."