As everyone in the hockey world knows, Connor Bedard‘s entry-level contract expires after the current season. Bedard could have signed an extension on July 1, when the final NHL year of his current contract began. But he hasn’t. Yet.
He, like Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, has consistently said there is no rush to get a deal done. They’re both in agreement that he’ll be a Blackhawk for a long time. So, while they’re both open to getting something done, both sides put it on the side burner (not back) when the season started to let the new year begin.
Situations evolve, and the money being thrown around the NHL since the summer has been both impressive and unprecedented. Starting with Kirill Kaprizov’s $17M AAV extension in Minnesota, there will be seven players with a new contract carrying an AAV of at least $10M beginning next season.
The latest deal, however, has sparked some conversation about the next wave of contracts — including Bedard.
Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesWhat’s up with Bedard’s next deal?
Bedard isn’t the only player from the 2023 NHL Draft class who will be a restricted free agent in 2026. Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli, the No. 2 and 3 overall picks, respectively, are also still waiting for their second NHL contracts to be signed.
The agents of all three players undoubtedly had enormous smiles on their faces this week when the Utah Mammoth agreed to the third-highest contract coming out of entry level in NHL history, signing Logan Cooley to an eight-year extension with a $10M AAV.
I have written about the growing list of contracts being given to young defensemen in the NHL in the past year or so and how those will factor as comps when the Blackhawks can consider a second contract for Sam Rinzel (which can happen on July 1 of 2026 already).
An eight-figure AAV on a second contract for a highly-picked forward?
You have my attention. You have everyone’s attention.
It certainly got the attention Pierre LeBrun at The Athletic, who wrote about the pending negotiations with Bedard, Carlsson and Fantilli on Friday morning. No, just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean there’s scary news for Blackhawks fans in there. It’s status quo. But what he wrote about the Blackhawks and Bedard’s camp was noteworthy.
Here’s part of what LeBrun said about Bedard’s ongoing negotiations:
My understanding is neither side has pinpointed exactly how far down the road they’ve kicked the ball. It’s a fluid delay. Perhaps they pick it back up in the new year. Perhaps it waits until after the season. Either way, nothing is imminent on that front.
The bottom line is there’s no rush from the player’s perspective, and why would there be? If Bedard pops this season, that puts him in a better situation to negotiate the huge contract that awaits him. And it allows every extension that gets signed around the league to become data points that provide more guidance.
How do I think it eventually plays out? I’m totally guessing here, but I think Chicago will do all it can to go the max eight years while it wouldn’t surprise me if Newport Sports pushes for five. For five years, I could see something in the $10 million average-annual-value range, or just above. For seven or eight years, you’re looking more at the $12 million-plus range. Bedard has all the leverage, no matter where it goes.
The only think I will add to this is a reminder that the Blackhawks need to get to the salary floor for the next couple years. And the progress of the talented prospects in the system — read: meeting and exceeding expectations — means there will be more entry-level contracts on the NHL roster sooner than later.
If the Blackhawks want to go max term, they can afford to go to a significant number on Bedard — maybe even north of $12M — because they have the cap space and, frankly, they need to use that cap space. And Bedard playing as well as he has to start the season is helping justify the Blackhawks giving him a bigger bag.
On the Cooley signing and how it relates to Bedard/Carlsson, on Necas signing, on Panarin, Zacha, J. Robertson and Frozen Frenzy tweaks. All in my weekend Rumblings for @TheAthletic t.co/Jt7ks565t2
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 31, 2025Hence then, the article about so what s up with connor bedard s next contract was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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