Blackhawks fans may not need to worry about a Connor Bedard offer sheet

Chicago Blackhawks fans may be able to breathe a little easier today.

After the Philadelphia Flyers put the league into a tailspin by tendering an offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, the alarm bells started ringing in Chicago. A team using an offer sheet on Connor Bedard is the worst -case scenario for the Blackhawks, who would have to be willing to match the offer or let Bedard go.

Thankfully for the Blackhawks and their fans, it doesn't sound like an offer sheet is on the table. On the most recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman said he doesn't think an offer sheet is coming for the Blackhawks' star forward.

"I think generally player and team have an excellent relationship," Friedman explained, "I think he's very happy to be a member of the organization."

However, Friedman also said he wouldn't leave any pens around the Bedard household, in case an offer is tendered. "I just personally wouldn't chance anything anymore."

So where does this leave the Blackhawks and Bedard?

The Leo Carlsson offer sheet still looms large

The Philadelphia Flyers forced the Anaheim Ducks' hands by using an offer sheet on Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick in the 2023 Draft. In order to keep Carlsson, the Ducks would have to match the offer sheet, paying him an average of $18 million over five years. This would make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the National Hockey League (NHL), in just his fourth season.

If the Ducks choose to let Carlsson walk, they will be compensated by a first-round pick from the Flyers in each of the next four seasons. The compensation for each offer sheet is determined by the contract AAV.

Carlsson and Bedard, having been drafted just one spot apart in the 2023 Entry Draft, would likely be viewed similarly by teams tendering an offer sheet. In the 2025 season, Bedard has 203 points in 219 games, while Carlsson has put up 241 points in his 201 games played. Though Bedard's numbers are slightly lower, his status as the first overall pick creates some extra buzz around his name.

What does this mean for Bedard and the Blackhawks?

If the Blackhawks want to keep Bedard on their own terms, they need to move quickly. With the potential for an offer sheet looming around any corner, the best protection is to lock down their star forward. If what Friedman reports about the relationship between the star player and the Blackhawks, this shouldn't be an issue. Will the Carlsson contract offer move the needle on Bedard's salary? Possibly. But if Bedard is interested in sticking around long term, he may be more willing to get a deal done at a good price.

Bedard's recent injury casts some doubt on this process as well. As of Monday, Friedman hadn't heard if the injury that Bedard sustained during an off-season ice time in Vancouver was serious. The Blackhawks forward has already had injury woes in his young career, missing time with a shoulder injury last season. This potential new injury, on the opposite shoulder from last season, could add some complications to the contract process.

Is it worth a team using an offer sheet to bring in an unhealthy Bedard? Do these injuries impact his salary at all? We'll know more in the coming days. Even an injured Bedard is a force to be reckoned with, so this injury may not be enough to scare off potential suitors.

Should the Blackhawks match an offer sheet?

If a team does jump on the offer sheet wagon with Bedard, is it in the Blackhawks' best interest to match the offer sheet? Absolutely.

Bedard is the future of the franchise, but he hasn't even hit his stride fully yet. The Canadian forward was heralded as the next Connor McDavid when he came into the league. Even though he started off a bit slower in his first season in the league, he was still the Calder Trophy winner. He has yet to play a full season in the NHL, yet he has continued to improve his production each season.

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