Connor Bedard's New Deal Is Coming, and It'll Shape Everything the Blackhawks Do Next

Connor Bedard is getting paid. That's locked in. The only real question left is how much and how long Chicago wants to commit to their 20-year-old superstar. Oh, and there's this: the Blackhawks are almost certainly naming him captain. That part just feels like a formality at this point.

Here's the thing, though. Signing Bedard is actually the easy part of this offseason for Chicago. The rest? That's messy.

The Kid Keeps Getting Better

Bedard continued improving in his third year since the Blackhawks drafted him No. 1 overall in 2023. In 69 games this season, he set career highs with 30 goals and 45 assists. The guy is 20 years old and already one of the franchise's most important pieces. He's made it clear repeatedly that he loves playing in Chicago and believes in where the team is headed. That matters when you're trying to build something.

On Thursday, after the Blackhawks beat San Jose 5-2 to finish out the season, Bedard kept it real. "The end of the day, we've got to start winning," he said. "It's been a while, and I think it takes a toll on you, and you want to make that step. We talk about it all the time, but it's on us to go out there, have good summers, come back and make that leap."

The Contract Is a Done Deal, But the Details Matter

Bedard is eligible for restricted free agency, but nobody expects this to drag out. General manager Kyle Davidson made Chicago's priorities crystal clear: get Bedard locked down, period.

"We'll get that done, and we'll get to work soon on that," Davidson said. "Like I said, he's so important to our team. He took such a big step forward this year in every facet. So yeah, that's certainly an important one to cross off the list."

But here's the catch. Whatever Bedard's final contract looks like,the term, the cap hit,it's going to dictate how Chicago approaches the rest of the rebuild. The franchise has top prospects whose rookie deals are expiring, and those decisions need to align with what they commit to Bedard.

The Blackhawks went 29-39-14 this year, an 11-point improvement from last season. Still nowhere near playoff contention. They've finished No. 31 in the NHL three years straight. Bedard knows the stakes. "It's just seeing kind of what fits the team best, what fits me best and just going from there," he said. He's open to whatever the front office thinks works.

The Rebuild Keeps Rolling

Chicago traded away its entire leadership group at the deadline. Captain Nick Foligno went to Minnesota. Alternate captains Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson headed to Edmonton. That's a gutting move, but it signals the team is all-in on building around Bedard, not patching things up short-term.

Getting Bedard signed is step one. Everything else flows from there.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.