New Contract: Connor Bedard Breaks the Bank in Chicago

That's all settled now.

Connor Bedard, who was still without a contract heading into next season, has just signed a new deal with the Blackhawks.

And the young player has really cashed in: he signed a five-year contract… worth $15 million per year.

It's worth noting that his average annual salary places him in the top 3 in the NHL. He's surpassed only by Leo Carlsson ($18 million) and Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million).

The Blackhawks announced the news on their social media accounts.

from draft night to his first goal on UC ice and every moment in between, here's to more years in Chicago pic.twitter.com/Cvad2ECxbC

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 18, 2026

It's obviously a pretty colossal sum… but more than anything, it puts Bedard in a pretty ideal position. The forward will reach full free agency at the end of his new contract, when he'll be 25 years old.

Keep in mind that the young man turned 21… yesterday. He'll therefore be just a few days shy of turning 26 when the deal he just signed expires.

Over the course of his first three seasons, Bedard has shown great promise in Chicago. He has tallied 203 points in 219 games, and he is undoubtedly the cornerstone of the project the Blackhawks are trying to build.

And with a deal like this, he solidifies his status as the team's franchise player… while giving himself an exit clause in the summer of 2031 if he's no longer happy in Chicago at that point.

Extension

Keep in mind that Bedard is currently recovering from shoulder surgery that will cause him to miss the start of next season.

We know the Blackhawks need him to have a big season if they want to (finally) turn things around: let's hope his injury doesn't prevent him from performing this season.