Connor Bedard: Leo Carlsson’s contract didn’t change anything

Michaël Petit
Connor Bedard: Leo Carlsson’s contract didn’t change anything
Credit: Capture d'écran/Twitter

Yesterday, Connor Bedard finally signed with the Chicago Blackhawks after his NHL entry-level contract had just expired.

At first glance, $15 million a year seems like a lot, but in reality, it could quickly turn out to be a steal.

As we all know, thanks to a hostile offer, Leo Carlsson signed a five-year deal worth $18 million a year.

It's easy to compare Bedard's and Carlsson's situations because they were drafted first and second, respectively, in the 2023 draft, and they both made their NHL debuts at age 18.

In almost every respect, Bedard outperforms Carlsson in terms of production. Bedard has about 60 more points than the Swede after three NHL seasons. Bedard has more goals and assists, and it's fair to say that Bedard has a weaker supporting cast than Carlsson.

Anyone would have thought that, given Carlsson's $18 million-per-season contract, Bedard would have signed for at least $18 million—if not more.

However, according to what Bedard's agent (Don Meehan) said in an interview with Mark Lazerus (The Athletic), Carlsson's contract didn't change anything.

Bedard had everything he needed to ask for the moon and possibly a record-breaking NHL contract.

Even before the hostile offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, Bedard had already sent the Hawks his list of demands, and after the offer sheet, he didn't want to budge from his position to ask for more.

“Bedard wanted the team to have as much flexibility as possible so it could be as effective and competitive as it could be.” – Don Meehan

Once again, the Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon effect is very much alive in the NHL: most players want to win before pocketing as much money as possible.

When you really think about it, halfway through his contract, he could become a steal as the salary cap skyrockets.

Bedard initially wanted a contract shorter than five years, while the Hawks wanted to sign him to a longer-term deal, as mentioned in Mark Lazerus's article.

The two sides met in the middle to ensure everyone was satisfied.

Earlier in July, Connor Bedard suffered a shoulder injury during practice, but Meehan told Lazerus that it didn't affect the negotiations at all.

Bedard could miss the first six weeks of the 2026–27 season, but he might have missed even more if he hadn't opted for surgery right away. If he hadn't had the surgery, after four weeks of recovery, he might still have needed surgery, which would have caused him to miss even more time during the upcoming season.

This five-year contract will have bought him only one year of free agency, as he will be 25 years old at the end of the contract (about two weeks before turning 26).

Furthermore, in the fifth and final year of this contract, Bedard will have a full no-movement clause.

All these contracts also pave the way for a potential contract extension for Macklin Celebrini, who will be in the final year of his entry-level contract in 2026–27.

If any player can command a massive contract—even more so than Carlsson—it's the San Jose Sharks' star.

However, just like Bedard, Crosby, and MacKinnon, Celebrini seems to be heading toward a contract that would help the Sharks build a team around him and thus improve their chances of winning.

In this article by Greg Wyshynski, we learn more about Celebrini's intentions regarding his next contract. Clearly, Celebrini is likely to take a pay cut to help the Sharks, who could secure a playoff spot as early as next season.


In Brief

– Must-read.

– Sad news in the world of baseball.

– Indeed.

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