BREAKING NEWS: Connor Bedard And Blackhawks Agree To 5 Year Extension

On Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have come to a contract extension with forward Connor Bedard. It will carry a cap hit of $15 million per season over the five years.This contract has been a hot topic, especially with the recent offer-sheet drama that has taken place in the NHL. Based on that, this contract is a bit of a bargain.𝐄 𝐗 𝐓 𝐄 𝐍 𝐃 𝐄 𝐃 🏠from draft night to his first goal on UC ice and every moment in between, here’s to 𝟓 more years of 𝟗𝟖 in Chicago ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Cvad2ECxbC— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 18, 2026Bedard is being paid partially for what he has proven in the NHL with the Blackhawks, but also because of what the future holds for him. As a former first overall pick in the draft, there are expectations that he is going to be a top-flight superstar.In 219 games played, Bedard has 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points. He had somewhat of a breakout in 2025-26, as he scored 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games played.Bedard is currently injured, as he just had shoulder surgery last week. He is expected to recover over the next four months, which gives him a mid-November target for a return. By that point, he will be hoping to provide a boost to the team that only he can.For the player and the team, this is a great deal. Bedard is one of the highest paid players in the NHL, and the Blackhawks technically got him below market value. Together, they have five years to take their rebuild to the next level.Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.