Bedard Secures $75 Million Deal With Blackhawks
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Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard agrees to a five-year contract with a $15 million average annual value.
The Chicago Blackhawks have reached an agreement with center Connor Bedard on a five-year contract totaling $75 million, according to a team announcement reported by Sportsnet. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $15 million for the 21-year-old, who entered the summer as a restricted free agent.
Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, comes off a third NHL season where he recorded career highs of 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games, despite missing time due to a shoulder injury.
Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson stated in a news release that Bedard has established himself as an elite player and set an extraordinary standard for the team's young core. The contract provides stability as the franchise seeks its first non-pandemic playoff appearance since the 2016-17 season.
However, the immediate impact of the star center will be delayed. Sportsnet reports that Bedard is expected to miss the start of the upcoming season following surgery on his left shoulder on July 8. The injury occurred during an off-season skate, and Bedard is currently facing a recovery timeline of approximately four months.