The Blackhawks need to lock up Bedard long-term

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks came into the NHL with high praise. After successful seasons with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL), he was the first overall pick in the NHL Draft in 2023. With high expectations, he has been nothing short of amazing in his short career. The time has come for the Blackhawks and Bedard to come to a long-term agreement and put it in writing.

Why sign Bedard long-term now?

There are several reasons to sign him now. First, he is 20 years old and still has many years to dominate. Signing him long-term not only tells him where Chicago stands but he will play more comfortably knowing he has a home for the forseeable future.

Second, he is a restricted free agent (RFA). He has proven that he can not only score points in bunches but also carry this team at a young age. His dominance is rarely seen for someone this early into their NHL career.

Three, as free agency looms, there will be plenty of player upgrades available. If he does not re-sign now and Chicago spends money on free agents, there will be less money for him. Lock up the young star and the cornerstone of your franchise. He deserves to get paid.

How do these benefits affect Chicago?

If he is signed long-term, this shows the organization and the city of Chicago that they are serious about winning. Having Bedard in a Blackhawks jersey could bring big free agents in the near future. With more experience, he will only get better, therefore making the team better around him. The steps Chicago is taking to improve the team and the place in the standings will once again attract free agents to the Original Six team. The better both Bedard and the Blackhawks are, the better the revenue and team morale will be. Players notice what other teams are doing. If Chicago is rising in the standings, players will take note and want to be part of the team's success. Chicago is building toward a playoff spot and eventually another Stanley Cup.

Bedard is one of the higher-profile players in the league, and he is still young. His entry-level deal was a three-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $950,000, totaling $2.85 million over three years. If Chicago is serious about re-signing him and Bedard wants to stay, they should start at a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $54 million. The Blackhawks have a projected cap space of $40.2 million for the 2026-27 season. If they play their cards right, they can pay Bedard what he is worth and still have cap space to sign players in free agency. Bedard and the Blackhawks are only going to get better, and this is one way to ensure their star player is here for the long haul.

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