The Chicago Blackhawks have announced the signing of forward Connor Bedard to a five-year, $75-million contract extension. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $15 million.
General Manager Kyle Davidson highlighted Bedard’s impact, stating that he has consistently surpassed expectations since being drafted and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL. Davidson noted Bedard’s ability to be a constant threat and to elevate the performance of his teammates. He also praised Bedard’s strong work ethic and determination to improve, which has set a high standard for the team’s young core.
Bedard, a North Vancouver, B.C., native, was the first overall selection by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to his NHL career, he played junior hockey with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, where he accumulated 134 goals and 137 assists for 271 points in 134 regular-season games. In his draft-eligible year, he recorded 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games.
Bedard has also represented Canada internationally, participating in the IIHF World Junior Championship. He was part of the gold medal-winning teams in 2022 and 2023, scoring 13 goals and adding 18 assists for 31 points in 14 games across both tournaments. He holds the record for all-time goals and points for Canada in World Junior history.
Bedard’s NHL performance and contract details
In his rookie NHL season, Bedard recorded 61 points in 68 games, earning him the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. He followed this with 68 points in his sophomore year, playing in all 82 games. Last season, Bedard set new career highs with 30 goals and 45 assists for a total of 75 points in 69 games, despite missing 13 games due to a shoulder injury and illness. This performance led the Blackhawks in scoring for the third consecutive year, and his playing time increased to nearly 21 minutes per night under head coach Jeff Blashill.
The new contract, with its $15MM AAV, positions Bedard as the third-highest-paid player in the league by that metric. This places him behind Minnesota winger Kirill Kaprizov and Anaheim centre Leo Carlsson. The contract covers Bedard’s four RFA-eligible seasons and one year of UFA eligibility, making him eligible for trade protection in the 2030-31 season.
The signing of this extension comes after Bedard suffered a shoulder injury earlier this month during offseason training, which required surgery and an estimated recovery period of four months. With the regular season now starting in September, he is likely to miss the first six weeks of the season, potentially ranging from 18 to 25 games.
This contract is seen as setting a timeframe for the Blackhawks to become competitive again. Bedard will be eligible to test the open market as a 26-year-old, potentially in the prime of his career, which could lead to a more lucrative deal at that time. The Blackhawks will need to be further along in their competitive window if they wish to retain their top player beyond this contract.
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Source: prohockeyrumors.com
