Could D-Man Who Broke Connor Bedard's Jaw, Devils Brendan Smith, Become A Blackhawk?

The 35-year-old Smith nailed Bedard in the face on Jan. 5 in New Jersey. Now the UFA may be moving and he fits the profile of what Chicago needs short-term.

Brendan Smith delivered the hit Blackhawks fans — maybe most NHL fans — remember most last season.

The Devils defenseman broke Connor Bedard's jaw with it late in the first period of a game in New Jersey on Jan. 5, 2024.

Bedard had just been named the youngest NHL All-Star the night before when the already injury-depleted Blackhawks lost to the Rangers in New York. In Newark on the following evening, Bedard weaved into the Devils zone on a power play, cutting between two players on right wing.

The puck rolled off Bedard's stick. He reached and put his head down for a second and...POP! Smith's nailed Bedard in the face with very clean, very intentional hit with his shoulder.

Bedard needed surgery and didn't return until Feb. 15 against Pittsburgh. 

But the 35-year-old Smith, who's a UFA, might be just the kind of veteran defenseman the Blackhawks could use next season. Along with someone like Vegas' Alec Martinez (See story below), the 6-foot-2, slightly rugged, stay-at-home Smith might be a good candidate to help stabilize Chicago's blue line as a wave of D-man prospects — Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan — graduate from the AHL to the NHL.

Solid Hockey Heritage

Smith, a popular leader on the Devils, has been a mostly reliable NHL D-man  since debuting with the the Detroit Red Wings in 2011. The older brother of Pittsburgh forward Reilly Smith, Brendan had been drafted by the Wings in the first round, 27th overall in 2007, then played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin before turning pro.

The Smiths are from the Toronto community of Mimico, home of Brendan Shanahan and former Blackhawk Dave Bolland. Both Smiths skated for the iconic St. Michael's Buzzers program.

As an NHLer, Brendan Smith, played part of six seasons in Detroit, four-plus with the New York Rangers, one with Carolina, then the past two with New Jersey after signing a two-year, $2.2 million contract in July 2022. He's entering his 14th NHL season in 2024-25 with 694 games of experience and averaging 16:26 of ice time per game.

Despite a solid hockey heritage, Smith had some costly D-zone breakdowns last season and finished second in penalty minutes among Devils skaters with 61.  He averaged 16:06 of ice time and was a minus-3 (Devils were minus-19 as a team), while blocking a career-high 101 shots and doling out a career-high 117 hits — including the one on Bedard.

Foligno Respects Smith

Blackhawks de facto captain Nick Foligno admitted he was "pissed" at Smith for the hit on Bedard and fought him on Jan. 5 "because he went after our best player." 

But Foligno, who broke a finger in the fight, said, "I think Smith's an honest player. I have a ton of respect for him. I think he plays the game the right way." See following video.

Smith won't cost his next NHL team much and probably would offer Chicago an upgrade from Jarred Tinordi, Nikita Zaitsev and Jaycob Megna as a journeyman veteran. He'd be in a position to support Foligno and others with his leadership and presence.

And Smith may be prepared to move on after two years with the Devils. He's put his 7,000 square foot house in Westfield, N.J. on the market for $2.95 million, according to Realtor.com,

“It’s true the house is on the market, but no inkling to free agency,” Smith told NJ Advance Media. “Haven’t started negotiations with NJ at this time.

“Personally I hope (I’m) not hanging up the skates,” Smith said. “I have not talked to management here… I love it here. I do want to be back. But, more than that, I want to be back in the NHL. So we’ll see how that goes.”