Why Connor Bedard's lack of a contract extension is, but isn't, cause for worry

Connor Bedard skated in his first game of his 2025-26 NHL Season last night, losing 3-2 to the Florida Panthers. Bedard registered just two shots on goal for the Blackhawks, but his speed was apparent throughout the night.

With last night's game, Bedard officially is in the final year of his rookie contract, and he is 81 games away from hitting restricted free agency. There was a moment on last night's broadcast where the conversation turned to Bedard and his decision to enter this season without a new deal—as a sort of "prove it" year.

Blackhawks fans would prefer Bedard to sign a long-term deal, like Frank Nazar. Just because the former first overall pick doesn't have a new deal in place doesn't mean Hawks fans should fear the worst.

Why Bedard's lack of a contract extension isn't a big deal.

If Connor McDavid hadn't signed a new contract—delaying his eventual move to Chicago—with the Edmonton Oilers this past weekend, fans would have been talking about a lack of a McDavid extension all season. Each city he played in this season would have come with reporters asking about his future and why he isn't signed. That should not be the case with Bedard and the Blackhawks.

If Blackhawks fans have seen one thing from Bedard over the past few seasons, it has been his competitive side. The 20 year-old lives hockey, and with 61 and 67 points in his first two seasons respectively, there is no doubt he wants to find another level on the ice this season.

Bedard will be a Blackhawk for a long time, and general manager Kyle Davidson has full control of that. Unlike if McDavid had made it to the end of the season without a deal, Bedard will be a restricted free agent in 2026—meaning if another team tried to sign him, the Hawks would be able to match the contract.

Bedard not being signed at this time does not mean fans should worry about him leaving. But they may want to worry about the price he signs at for his new deal.

In Anaheim, Jackson LaCombe, 24, just signed a $72 million contract over eight seasons, in New Jersey, Luke Hughes just signed a seven-year contract worth $63 million, and obviously, everyone is aware of the record-breaking $136 million contract from Kirill Kaprizov carrying a cap hit of $17 million.

The point is, the salary cap is going up, and players are going to be making more and more money with each contract, raising the bar. If Bedard had signed a new deal before Kaprizov's extension, there wouldn't be that comparable out there to what a star player should make, or what other young up-and-coming players are making in LaCombe and Hughes.

The changing contract landscape and the overall increase in what star players are making might affect Bedard's new contract. With waiting comes the opportunity for more players to sign new deals and continue to raise the bar.