Blackhawks Connor Bedard skates on the ice (Image via ZUMA/ Armando L Sanchez)
Blackhawks Connor Bedard skates on the ice (Image via ZUMA/ Armando L Sanchez)
Connor Bedard’s three‑year entry‑level deal expired on July 1, making the 20‑year‑old Chicago Blackhawks forward a restricted free agent. His contract talks with GM Kyle Davidson have stalled just as Bedard is reportedly seeking a massive $17 million average annual value (AAV).
NHL reporter Irfaan Gaffar revealed on The DFO Rundown podcast on July 3 that Bedard is aiming for “Kirill Kaprizov money.”
“I think that Connor Bedard is looking at Kirill Kaprizov money [17m AAV]...that is a number that he’s looking at; I’m not entirely sure the Blackhawks...are close to that number when discussing Bedard right now,” Gaffar said as per a post by NHL Rumour Report on X.
Kaprizov set the precedent on September 30, 2025, when he signed an eight‑year, $136 million deal with Minnesota, worth $17M AAV beginning in 2026‑27 till 2033-34 season.
Connor Bedard’s ask mirrors that contract, but Chicago has yet to agree to such terms.
Connor Bedard’s Path to $17M: From No. 1 Pick to RFA Standoff
The possible reason behind Bedard’s demand lies in his breakout 2025‑26 season. Despite Chicago finishing last in the Central Division, Connor Bedard posted career‑high numbers with 75 points (30G, 45A) in 75 games.
His total trailed Kaprizov’s 89 points (45G, 44A), but Bedard believes his production puts him in the same bracket.
Bedard was drafted No. 1 overall in 2023 and signed a three‑year, $4.45M AAV entry‑level contract.
Before being drafted into the NHL, Bedard was honored with the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence for the 2022-23 season, as per NHL.com.
Connor Bedard also won the Calder Trophy in 2024 after a 61‑point (22 goals and 39 assists) rookie season for Chicago, joining Kaprizov (2021 for the Minnesota Wild) as a fellow Calder winner.
Both players now share that accolade, but Bedard’s performance shows steady growth. Bedard improved on his numbers in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons to rack up 203 points (75G / 128A) in just 219 games for the Blackhawks in his first three years.
The Blackhawks remain unwilling to match his $17M demand, citing the gap in negotiations.
With Chicago’s rebuild ongoing, the question is whether Davidson will commit to a record‑setting deal for his young star or hold firm.
Will Connor Bedard get his desired contract from the Chicago Blackhawks after becoming a restricted free agent? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Written by
Arjun Sharma