A day after his 21st birthday, the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft, Connor Bedard, signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 18. However, before his signing, Leo Carlsson’s contract shifted the NHL landscape. But Bedard stayed unaffected by it. 

Carlsson decided to stay with the Anaheim Ducks after they matched the Philadelphia Flyers' offer of a five-year, $90 million offer sheet, with an $18 million AAV, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history. However, Bedard didn't use Carlsson's contract as a benchmark to demand more money, as reported by his agent, Don Meehan.

“It’s certainly reflective of the changing economic climate in our game today,” Meehan told The Athletic. “But as far as Connor was concerned, he was happy with the original position that we had submitted to Chicago and negotiated.”

Bedard agreed to a five-year, $75 million extension with Chicago through the 2030-31 season. His $15 million AAV moves him ahead of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, whose $14 million AAV had ranked among the league's highest.

“He wanted the team to have as much leeway to make the team as effective and competitive as it could be,” Bedard’s agent added in the same The Athletic interview. “He became aware of the changing economic landscape, but that was his decision, entirely his decision.”

Bedard's decision to accept a lower cap hit of $15,000,000 per season, per Puckpedia, gave the Blackhawks greater financial flexibility to improve the lineup.

He had the weapon to use the No.1 overall pick status to push the contract further, but he did not.

While Bedard has put the Blackhawks first, he has already won the team’s trust.

Connor Bedard’s elite production earns praise

Since going first overall to Chicago in 2023, Bedard has quickly lived up to the hype. He captured the Calder Trophy in 2023-24 after pacing all rookies with 22 goals and 61 points.

Last season, he hit the 200-point mark, scoring 30 goals, 45 assists, and 75 points, pushing his career points to 203. Bedard’s improvement caught Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson’s attention. 

“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” Davidson said per NHL.com. “He sets an extraordinary standard for our young core.”

While the Blackhawks are sold by how Bedard has proved himself so far, there still lies a tension. A late upper-body injury suffered during a face-off with one second remaining in a Dec. 12 loss to St. Louis kept Bedard out for 12 games.

The injury was serious, and he had to undergo surgery on his left shoulder. As per the latest updates from the Blackhawks, Bedard will miss the start of the season, with Chicago’s first game scheduled on September 29 against the Las Vegas Golden Knights. 

What are your thoughts on what Bedard’s agent shared? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Soheli Tarafdar

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar