The Blackhawks have committed to their franchise cornerstone. Chicago announced Saturday that it agreed to terms with Connor Bedard on a five-year contract extension worth $75 million, a deal that carries a $15 million average annual value and runs from 2026-27 through the 2030-31 season.
The cap hit vaults Bedard into rare company. He will be the third-highest-paid player in the NHL next season, trailing only Anaheim center Leo Carlsson at $18 million and Minnesota winger Kirill Kaprizov at $17 million. The agreement came one day after Bedard turned 21.
Bedard strengthened his case for the commitment with the best season of his young career, setting personal highs with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games. Chicago selected him first overall in 2023 as the most-hyped prospect the franchise has landed since it drafted the core that carried it to three Stanley Cups, and the extension signals the organization intends to build the next contender around him.
The number lands close to where the market had been trending for young stars on their second contracts, in the neighborhood of Carlsson’s recent five-year, $18 million-per-year pact. For a rebuilding Blackhawks team that has spent the past few seasons accumulating draft capital and young talent, removing any question about Bedard’s future is the foundational move the roster has been waiting on.
With the deal in place, Chicago’s offseason focus shifts to surrounding Bedard with enough complementary scoring and defensive stability to accelerate its climb back toward playoff contention.
