The Chicago Blackhawks signed star center Connor Bedard to a five-year, $75 million contract on Saturday. Bedard will earn the third-highest average annual salary in the NHL with the new deal.
Bedard, who turned 21 on Friday, was a restricted free agent after his initial three-year, $13.4 million entry-level deal expired following this past season. He was the No. 1 overall selection by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Advertisement
The Vancouver native has led the Blackhawks in scoring during each of his three NHL seasons and tallied 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) for the 2025-26 campaign.
Building around its young star, Chicago has yet to post a winning record with Bedard on the roster. This past season, the Blackhawks finished last in the Central division with a 29-39-14 record, earning the second-worst mark in the NHL for the third consecutive season. Chicago has not made the playoffs since the 2019-20 campaign.
Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 after hurting himself while skating with some NHL players. He is expected to miss the beginning of the upcoming season while recovering from the injury.
“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson in the announcement of Bedard’s contract.
“He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice,” he added. “Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core.”
Advertisement
Bedard’s $15 million average annual salary with his new contract is the third-largest among NHL players. Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson ranks first, averaging $18 million per season in his five-year, $90 million deal. Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild is next on the list at $17 million per year from his eight-year, $136 million contract, the richest overall package in the league.
The five-year deal keeps Bedard with the Blackhawks through the 2030-31 season, but covers only his first year of unrestricted free agency. He’ll be only 26 years old when the contract expires.
Read the full article here