Connor Bedard named captain of Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have named 21-year-old Connor Bedard as the 37th captain in franchise history. Bedard is set to officially assume the role at the start of the 2026-27 season.

Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson cited Bedard’s ability to lead by example, his high personal standards, and his capacity to improve the performance of his teammates as key reasons for the appointment. Bedard, who recently signed a five-year, $75 million contract, expressed that being named captain of such a storied franchise is “one of the biggest honors” of his life.

The decision follows the offseason trade of previous captain Nick Foligno to the Minnesota Wild. While Bedard has been a significant offensive force for the team, he is currently recovering from shoulder surgery performed in July and is expected to return to the ice in November.