Connor Bedard signs $75M extension, becomes NHL’s third‑highest paid player

The Chicago Blackhawks announced that 21‑year‑old centre Connor Bedard has agreed to a five‑year contract worth $75 million, an average annual value of $15 million. The deal makes Bedard the league’s third‑highest‑paid player, behind Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson ($18 million AAV) and Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million AAV). The extension was confirmed on July 18, 2026, the day after Bedard’s birthday, and locks him with Chicago through the 2030‑31 season.

Bedard entered the deal after posting career highs last season – 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games – and leading the Blackhawks in assists, points and game‑winning goals. General manager Kyle Davidson praised his work ethic and impact on the team’s young core. The contract’s five‑year length gives Bedard unrestricted free‑agency eligibility at age 26, providing both financial security and future bargaining power.

The forward will miss the start of the 2026‑27 season due to shoulder surgery performed in early July; the club expects a four‑month recovery. The extension fulfills one of Chicago’s top offseason priorities, complementing other moves such as the acquisition of defence‑man Bowen Byram.