Connor Bedard Signs Five-Year Deal with Blackhawks

Connor Bedard might sit out the beginning of the next NHL season due to a shoulder injury, but it looks like he’ll be in Chicago for quite a while. The Blackhawks have officially signed him to a five-year contract worth $15 million per year.

This news is a relief for Blackhawks fans.

Last season, Bedard was a restricted free agent after wrapping up his rookie deal, which gave Chicago the exclusive right to negotiate. Typically, that shouldn’t be a problem. However, recent offer sheets have stirred some concerns, especially when the Philadelphia Flyers signed Leo Karlsson from the Anaheim Ducks to an impressive $18 million annual contract.

The Ducks had to match that offer or face losing him in exchange for draft picks, which would complicate things for their own free agents, such as Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke. Though Bedard could potentially be targeted by an offer sheet, securing a contract extension quickly is in the Blackhawks’ best interest to maintain their key franchise player.

It seems both sides are satisfied with this agreement.

Bedard’s journey in the NHL has been a bit rocky, mainly due to injuries, but he’s shown glimpses of the talent everyone anticipated when he entered the league.

Considering Karlsson’s contract, Chicago likely feels fortunate to have Bedard locked in at $15 million. Now, he’ll need to put up solid numbers to justify this deal. According to Puckpedia, the contract includes a full no-trade clause, but only for the final year. This means the Blackhawks won’t face complications of him needing to approve any trades if things don’t pan out for some reason.