Connor Bedard locked in a massive five-year, $75 million contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. This deal means Bedard, at a staggering $15 million average annual value, is now the third-highest paid player across the entire NHL for the 2026-27 season. Talk about a statement!
Elite Money, Elite Expectations
The Blackhawks aren’t messing around, betting big on their franchise cornerstone. Only Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, at $17 million, and newly-signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, at an incredible $18 million, pull in more cash than Bedard. That’s some serious company for a guy drafted No. 1 overall just a few years ago in 2023. Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson didn’t mince words, stating Bedard “has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL.” Davidson also highlighted how Bedard “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.” With that kind of praise and that kind of money, the pressure is on for Connor to deliver even more.
The Real Work Starts Now, If He Can Stay On The Ice
Look, Bedard’s offensive game is straight fire. Last season he posted a career high 75 points in just 69 games. We’re talking 75 goals and 128 assists across 219 NHL games total. The kid oozes offensive ability, no doubt about it. But here’s the kicker: the real challenges for Bedard are durability and defense. He’s played fewer than 70 games in two of his three seasons already. And it gets worse: he’s going to miss the entire first month of the upcoming season with *another* shoulder injury that required surgery. This isn’t his first shoulder issue, either. That has to be a major red flag for any team, let alone one paying him $15 million a year.
Then there’s the defensive side. It’s a common problem for young centers, sure, and the expectation is it *should* improve. But last season, with Bedard on the ice at five-on-five, Chicago was giving up 3.60 xGA/60, according to Natural Stat Trick. That was the second-worst number on the entire team, with rookie Anton Frondell bringing up the rear. While it doesn’t mean Bedard was the absolute worst defensive player, it definitely shows he struggled on that end. If he wants to be the true No. 1 franchise center everyone expects, he’s got to thrive at both ends of the ice.
This massive contract finalizes the long-term commitment, but now both Bedard and the Blackhawks need to take that next step towards greatness. For Bedard, that means getting healthy and staying healthy, and refining his game defensively. He missed 13 games with a shoulder injury last year, and now he’s out for a dozen more right out of the gate. These issues could seriously delay his jump into the NHL’s elite tier of players. The team also needs to surround him with an adequate supporting cast for the first time in his career. When he does hit the ice again later this season, every shift will be under the microscope. Can he shed those defensive issues and stay on the ice? The answer is everything for Chicago’s next chapter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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