Blackhawks star Connor Bedard agrees to 5-year, $75M deal
The Chicago Blackhawks have announced the re-signing of Connor Bedard, their star centre, to a five-year, $75 million contract. This agreement, finalized on Saturday, addresses a key offseason objective for the team. Bedard, who became 21 on Friday, was a restricted free agent prior to the deal.
Kyle Davidson, the general manager, commented on Bedard’s impact, stating that he has consistently exceeded expectations since being drafted. Davidson highlighted Bedard’s ability to be a constant threat and elevate the play of those around him. He also noted Bedard’s strong work ethic and commitment to improving his game, which has set a high standard for the team’s young core.
The contract was completed 10 days after Bedard underwent surgery on his left shoulder. The injury occurred while he was skating with other NHL players, and he is anticipated to miss the beginning of the upcoming season.
Bedard’s Performance and Impact
Bedard has been a central figure for the Blackhawks since he was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He made his NHL debut in October of that year and was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year.
He continued to show improvement in his most recent season, achieving career highs with 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games. Davidson remarked in April that Bedard took a significant step forward in every aspect of his game during the past year.
Bedard’s rookie season saw him miss nearly six weeks due to a broken jaw. This past year, he was sidelined for 12 games after sustaining an injury to his right shoulder. Despite these setbacks, he led the Blackhawks in scoring for the third consecutive year and saw his playing time increase to just under 21 minutes per night.
The Blackhawks finished this year with a record of 29-39-14, an 11-point improvement over the previous season, though still not in contention for the playoffs. The team has ranked No. 31 in the NHL for the last three years and has not made a postseason appearance since the expanded playoff format used after the 2020 season.
Looking Ahead for Bedard and the Blackhawks
With the contract now finalized, there is speculation that Bedard could become the 36th captain in Blackhawks franchise history. He was named an alternate captain after the team traded its entire leadership group in March. Teammate Oliver Moore stated in April that Bedard possesses all the necessary leadership qualities to be a captain in the league, noting his consistent dedication.
The average annual value (AAV) of Bedard’s contract positions him as one of the highest-paid players in the league, behind Minnesota winger Kirill Kaprizov and Anaheim centre Leo Carlsson. This contract covers Bedard’s four RFA-eligible seasons and one year of UFA eligibility. He will be eligible for trade protection in a future season.
The injury Bedard sustained earlier this month, which required surgery and a recovery period of four months, did not significantly affect contract discussions. With the regular season now starting in September, he is likely to miss the first six weeks of the season, potentially missing between 18 to 25 games.
This contract also appears to set a timeline for the Blackhawks to return to contention. Bedard will be eligible to enter the open market as a player in his prime, potentially in the prime of his career. If the Blackhawks aim to retain him at that point, they will likely need to be further along in their competitive window than they have been during Bedard’s initial three professional seasons.
The Blackhawks have also made other moves this offseason, acquiring defenceman Bowen Byram in a trade with Buffalo on June 23, and signing forward prospect Roman Kantserov in May.
The team announced the deal on Saturday.
Source: sportsnet.ca
