Connor Bedard got a massive payday Saturday from the Blackhawks while setting himself up for a possibly gargantuan payday in 2031.
The Hawks’ cornerstone center signed a new five-year contract that carries a $15 million salary-cap hit, ending his nearly three-week stint as a restricted free agent.
The Hawks presumably pushed for an eight-year max-length contract in negotiations, which had been actively ongoing for about a month. But the shorter term does help keep Bedard’s cap hit semi-reasonable compared to Ducks star Leo Carlsson’s $18 million.
However, Bedard, who just turned 21 on Friday, is now slated to become an unrestricted free agent at contract’s end, when he will be in his prime and the NHL salary cap will be even higher.
“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and [he] has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement.
“He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat but [also] to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.”
Bedard receives a $9.8 million signing bonus right away and in every subsequent year of the contract, per PuckPedia, in a nod to his jersey number, No. 98. He will also wield a full no-movement clause in 2030-31, the final year.
The Hawks will need to figure out a way to re-sign Bedard again around then — and that might prove difficult — but that’s a problem for another day. They’ll also need to manage their salary structure smartly around Bedard’s cap hit, but that also isn’t an imminent issue — and it might never become a major issue given how quickly the cap is rising.
The most important thing for the Hawks was to lock up the centerpiece of their new generation without a holdout — or the worst-case scenario of an offer sheet, which seemed like a genuine concern in the wake of Carlsson’s offer sheet with the Flyers (which the Ducks eventually matched).
For Davidson, that crucial to-do item has now been checked off. For Bedard, the signing follows through on repeated verbal commitments to the Hawks, whose long-term plan he has publicly and privately expressed confidence in despite plenty of outside skepticism.
“I have so much faith in the management, the coaching and also our players,” Bedard said in April. “We get to see [in] each other every day how we approach the game, how guys practice, how much skill there is.
“I would go to bat for any single guy in that room and argue they’re going to reach their full potential because of the mindset and work ethic we have in our group. I can’t be more confident that we’re going to get to where we want to get to. It’s going to be a fun journey.”
Bedard, for now, is slated to be the league’s third-highest paid player in 2026-27, behind Carlsson and Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, but several other stars on expired or soon-to-expire contracts will soon pass him. That’s the way things are going.
It’s worth noting Bedard is following in Hawks legend Patrick Kane’s footsteps in some uncanny ways. Not only does Bedard’s career stat line to date — 203 points in 219 games — exactly match Kane’s production from his first 219 games, but Bedard and Kane have also now both signed five-year deals after their entry-level contracts.
Kane signed for five years with a $6.3 million cap hit starting in 2010-11, then cashed in with an eight-year deal with a $10.5 million cap hit starting in 2015-16.
Patrick Kane recorded 203 points in his first 219 NHL games with the Blackhawks.
Connor Bedard has now done the same.
Patrick Kane signed a five-year contract after his ELC expired.
Connor Bedard has now done the same.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 18, 2026
Bedard’s big step forward in 2025-26, which featured him reached the 30-goal and 75-point marks in 69 games, put him back on track toward superstardom.
He tied for 20th in the NHL in points per game and likely would’ve ranked higher if not for an injury-hampered January. He also likely would’ve ranked higher if he had any sort of quality linemates, which he theoretically should gain during the course of this contract.
Bedard won’t start this coming season on time, though, after undergoing left shoulder surgery earlier this month following a fluky injury while skating in his hometown of Vancouver.
He’s slated to return in early to mid-November, which makes it particularly unfortunate for the Hawks that 13 of first 19 games (through Nov. 13) are against teams that made the playoffs last season.
Kane, coincidentally, is back on the Hawks’ radar as a free agent. He could come full circle to skate on Bedard’s wing this season. Hawks ambassador Chris Chelios said last week (during an interview on 670 The Score) that Kane told him he’s deciding between contract offers from the Hawks and his hometown Sabres.
That’s one more notable piece of business for Davidson to figure out, as are contracts for Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro — the Hawks’ last two restricted free agents.
And come September, even with Bedard injured, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him named Hawks captain. This relatively long-term contract marked the last prerequisite for that title to be wisely bestowed upon him.
“[With] how tight our room is, how close everyone is off the ice, it makes it so easy for anyone to be in that role,” Bedard said in April. “If I did get the ‘C,’ I’m not going to change who I am and become something different just because of that letter.
“It’s an added responsibility that I do think I would be ready for. A lot of guys could be ready for it in that room. But it would be a special honor, for sure.”