What’s subsequent for Connor Bedard, Blackhawks after large five-year, $75 million contract extension

The Chicago Blackhawks have locked of their franchise cornerstone for the close to future. On Saturday, the Blackhawks introduced that star middle Connor Bedard has signed a five-year contract worth $75 million.

Bedard’s $15 million common annual worth makes him the third-highest paid participant within the NHL for the 2026-27 season. Solely Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million) and the newly-signed Anaheim Geese middle Leo Carlsson ($18 million) are forward of him.

“Connor has repeatedly defied our expectations since being drafted, and has shortly established himself as an elite participant within the NHL,” Blackhawks basic supervisor Kyle Davidson mentioned in an announcement. “He makes use of all elements of his sport to not solely be a relentless menace, however to make the gamers round him higher each time he steps on the ice. Connor’s sturdy work ethic and willpower to all the time enhance his sport has set a rare commonplace for our younger core, and we’re excited for the unbelievable influence he’ll have on this subsequent chapter of Blackhawks Hockey.”

The No. 1 total choose within the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard has already displayed elite offensive upside, even when his total sport nonetheless has work to do. Final season, Bedard posted a profession excessive 75 factors in 69 video games. In 219 NHL video games, Bedard has totaled 75 objectives and 128 assists.

The largest points for Bedard are sturdiness issues — he is performed fewer than 70 video games in two of three seasons and can miss the primary month of the upcoming season with a shoulder harm — and subpar protection. The protection is a typical drawback for younger facilities and will enhance within the coming years, however Bedard has now suffered a number of shoulder accidents in his profession.

With Bedard’s long-term contract finalized, each he and the Blackhawks will attempt to take the subsequent step towards greatness. For the participant, which means refining his sport to be able to turn out to be the $15 million man most consider him to be. For the staff, which means surrounding Bedard with an satisfactory supporting solid for the primary time in his profession.

The subsequent step for Bedard

At the start, Bedard must get wholesome and keep wholesome. After lacking 13 video games with a shoulder harm final yr, Bedard suffered one other harm that required surgical procedure to repair, and he’ll miss roughly a dozen video games out of the gate in 2026-27. These points could delay his leap into the NHL’s elite tier of gamers.

As soon as again at full energy, Bedard must present enchancment defensively. He oozes offensive capacity, but when Bedard goes to be a real No. 1 franchise middle, he has to thrive at each ends of the ice. With Bedard on the ice at five-on-five final season, Chicago surrendered 3.60 xGA/60, per Pure Stat Trick. That was the second-worst quantity on the staff with rookie Anton Frondell mentioning the rear.

That does not essentially imply Bedard was the Blackhawks’ worst defensive participant, but it surely does imply he usually struggled when going up towards the opposing staff’s finest gamers. Stars — particularly these raking in $15 million per season — are anticipated to drive play for his or her staff no matter circumstance. Bedard did not do this final season.

Bedard additionally wants to point out extra development within the face-off circle. To his credit score, Bedard has already carried out that, going from 38.9% as a rookie to 47.1% final season. Nonetheless, Chicago would most likely prefer to see Bedard nearer to 50%, particularly with him taking key attracts in massive moments. Perhaps that quantity retains rising as Bedard will get sturdy and provides extra methods within the dot.

If Bedard can spherical out his sport with out the puck, $15 million per season shall be a very reasonable deal, particularly as salaries explode throughout the league.

The subsequent step for the Blackhawks

We have already seen what can occur when a restricted free agent has all of the leverage in contract negotiations. The Geese had been primarily backed right into a $90 million contract after the Philadelphia Flyers signed Carlsson to an enormous supply sheet.

That threat was there for Bedard too, which is why Davidson deserves some credit score for signing him at a extra affordable cap hit. Bedard nonetheless has work to do to be able to attain that worth level, however his ceiling is value at the very least $15 million per season.

The Blackhawks may also help their younger star by placing extra NHL-caliber gamers round him. Chicago tore it right down to the studs in hopes of touchdown Bedard within the 2023 draft, and whereas that plan labored, it additionally created a roster filled with holes across the No. 1overall choose. During the last three seasons, Bedard has had little assist.

Chicago already improved its protection this offseason when it acquired Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres. Say what you’ll concerning the acquisition value or his $75 contract extension, however Byram inarguably makes Chicago higher on the blue line. That unit nonetheless wants work, but it surely’s a step in the appropriate path.

The true subject is discovering Bedard a top quality operating mate on the prime of the lineup. Exterior of Bedard, just one different participant topped 50 factors in 2025-26, and it was 31-year-old Tyler Bertuzzi. Chicago nonetheless has $14.1 million in cap area with which so as to add some firepower, however some upgrades must come internally.

It is conceivable that the Blackhawks’ lineup will embrace seven gamers chosen inside the highest 50 picks of the final 5 drafts.

That is an thrilling proposition, and followers have causes to be optimistic concerning the future. That mentioned, none of these gamers have actually established themselves as future stars, exterior of Bedard. Frondell, Nazar and Rinzel look like the most effective bets to get there quickly, however that is primarily based extra on projection than something tangible.

The primary month of the season needs to be a superb barometer for the Blackhawks as they assess these gamers. Bedard shall be out of the lineup, and it will be fascinating to see who sinks and who swims till he returns. As soon as Chicago establishes precisely what it has in its younger nucleus, Davidson can then exit and aggressively tackle wants through trades and free company.