sports
Blackhawks Sign Connor Bedard to Five-Year, $75 Million Contract
The Chicago Blackhawks announced a five-year, $75 million deal for 21-year-old forward Connor Bedard on July 18. The contract carries a $15 million annual cap hit and runs through the 2030-31 season.
Jul 18, 6:44 PM·1m read3 sources
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Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract on Saturday that includes five signing bonuses of $9.8 million each and buys out one year of unrestricted free agency. The deal carries a $15 million annual cap hit and keeps the 2023 first overall pick under contract through the 2030-31 season.
Bedard, 21, has recorded 203 points in 219 NHL games across three seasons with Chicago.
He posted career highs of 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games during the 2025-26 season. The contract is front-loaded, according to puckpedia.com.
Bedard will miss more than a month of the 2026-27 regular season after undergoing left shoulder surgery on July 8. He sustained the injury while training in Vancouver. He also injured his other shoulder last season and suffered a broken jaw during his rookie year.
"Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. "He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice." Bedard wears jersey number 98.
