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The Chicago Blackhawks' extension of forward Connor Bedard has made him the third-highest paid player in the NHL and the resigning of Bedard benefits both sides.
The Blackhawks signed the center/left-winger to a five-year, $75 million contract extension on July 18 and it looks like a win-win for the Blackhawks and Bedard on several counts.
Locking down the 21-year-old through the 2030-31 season provides the Blackhawks' front office with a cornerstone for their future.
Bedard led the Chicago Blackhawks in scoring for the third consecutive year in the 2025-26 season with 75 points in 69 games.
The youngster showed improvements in several areas of his game, such as faceoffs, two-way play, physical engagement, shot power and skating speed before he was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
While he will miss the first month of the 2026-27 NHL season, he will be looking to carry his momentum with a signing that is providing him with elite compensation at a young age.
His third-highest paid contract trails only Leo Carlsson and Kirill Kaprizov in total Average Annual Value (AAV), which ensures him an AAV of $15 million per year.
By signing a five-year extension with the Blackhawks it helps Bedard set a mark in his career as he will hit Unrestricted Free Agency (UFA) at age 25, which will help him acquire more hefty contract extensions when he enters the prime of his career.
In addition, Bedard will also be capitalizing on a rising cap.
Since the NHL salary cap is surging (it has surpassed $104 million), a shorter five-year extension guarantees Bedard isn't underpaid on a contract that is stagnant and long-term.
For the Blackhawks, they have scored big with Bedard as they are securing their cornerstone while also providing them with cap and roster flexibility.
With an AAV of $15 million a year the deal is seen as a slight bargain when compared to other young megadeals around the league.
In terms of roster flexibility, it provides the front office with an ample amount of financial space to pair Bedard with top-tier talent through trades and free agency.
As well, it provides general manager Kyle Davidson with more than enough cap space to further develop their team that is in a rebuild stage but is slowly approaching a competitive window.
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