The Chicago Blackhawks still have some work to do before Connor Bedard signs his next NHL contract, but the expected contract value is becoming clearer.

Bedard is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, and many people are watching what could become one of the biggest deals in team history.

A big contract would make Bedard the main player in Chicago's rebuild and could make him one of the NHL's highest-paid players before he turns 21. NHL insider David Pagnotta said the Blackhawks already seem comfortable offering a contract in that top salary range.

Speaking on the DFO Rundown, Pagnotta said, "I think Chicago is probably...comfortable in the 12.5 to 13, 14 [million AAV] range."

NHL Rumour Report later shared Pagnotta's comments in a post on X, bringing more attention to the contract talks.

If Bedard signs a deal in that salary range, he will become one of the NHL's highest-paid players right away. Leon Draisaitl is currently the highest-paid player at $14 million per year. Auston Matthews earns $13.25 million per year, and Connor McDavid makes $12.5 million each season.

The Blackhawks are ready to consider that kind of contract because they believe Bedard is the future of the team. The 20-year-old center scored 30 goals and added 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games last season, even though Chicago was still rebuilding.

Right now, his cap hit is only $950,000, so a new contract would be a huge increase. It also shows how much the Blackhawks value their young star for the future.

A late-season slump is unlikely to change Chicago's long-term vision

According to a Markerzone report by David St-Jean, the contract talks also include one key point: Bedard’s tough finish to the 2025-26 season.

In his last 10 games, he had eight points but did not score any goals. His plus-minus also fell to minus-14 in that span, and he ended the season at minus-18 overall.

Even with that, the report says this poor finish will not change negotiations much. Teams usually pay players based on long-term potential, not a short slump.

Chicago also went through a rough season, finishing 29-39-14 with 72 points and a minus-62 goal difference. Because of this, the management is more focused on the future than on short-term results.

General manager Kyle Davidson is basically betting that Bedard will become the player who turns the Blackhawks into a strong team again.

No deal is done yet, and neither the contract length nor the exact salary is confirmed. But reports suggest Chicago is already comfortable with a certain price range, which shows both sides may be close on the main terms as training camp gets closer.

Nothing is official right now, but the expected salary range shows how much the Blackhawks value Connor Bedard as the future of the franchise. If talks keep moving forward, Chicago could soon give its young star one of the biggest contracts in NHL history.

What do you think? Where will Bedard's blockbuster extension land within the reported contract range ultimately at the end? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi