Differing reports emerging on Connor Bedard contract talks

In case you have not heard, Connor Bedard is due a new deal as the star Chicago Blackhawks forward's entry-level contract expires this summer. Bedard is set for a massive payday after enjoying a breakout year three campaign that saw him set career highs in production.

Bedard and the Blackhawks have recently resumed contract talks as Kyle Davidson looks to lock up Chicago's franchise player. Thus far, there have been differing reports regarding what this deal will look like.

What is the latest on the Bedard contract negotiations?

The Bedard deal will get done. He and the team have both expressed mutual interest in reaching an agreement. The question is whether Bedard will max out on a rich long-term extension or sign a cheaper, shorter-term deal that would keep him an RFA when the next contract talks approach.

Insider David Pagnotta seems split on this subject. On Oilersnation Everyday, he stated: "I think if Connor Bedard goes full term, he's probably 16, 17 [million AAV], in that range; I don't think he's going full term, I think it'll be shorter."

It would likely be preferable for Davidson to get Bedard extended on a long-term deal lasting seven or eight years. While that would be a more expensive deal when it comes to the number, two positives come out of it. Number one is you kick the next contract extension discussion further down the road by getting Bedard locked in for the long haul. Number two is with the rapidly rising NHL salary cap, which means that the contract has the potential to age well down the line.

$16-17 million is an overpayment for Bedard, right now that is. With that said, Bedard appears primed to take another leap forward in his game very soon, with a promising young Blackhawks team around him getting better. Let us not forget he was producing at the same rate as fellow first overall pick Macklin Celebrini this past season, prior to his shoulder injury. If Bedard can stay healthy next season and produce at a similar rate over a full campaign as he had in October-November last year, that deal already won't look too shabby.

Not to mention, if there is one player on this Chicago team that Davidson should not be stressing about the money, it is Bedard. While it would be nice to get a team-friendly deal that would provide more flexibility, times are changing in this league. Bedard is this team's future captain; the identity of this squad runs through him. He is the player this entire scorched-earth rebuild has been centered around. The Blackhawks have over $40 million in cap room; pay the man. Davidson has already gotten plenty of good-value deals done with core players Alex Vlasic, Frank Nazar, and Spencer Knight. This gives him the wiggle room to make the Bedard camp happy, which should not be an issue here.

If the contract ends up being a shorter-term extension of around four years, that value will likely be considerably less. This does not mean it is time to panic. It does not mean Bedard is not committed to this team and will leave when the next negotiating window opens up. That would likely be his agent being smart, seeing what the future number could look like down the line as the market continues to shift and Bedard continues to get better with a stronger team around him. Plus, the Blackhawks would still have full control over Bedard's rights in this scenario. If it turns out to be a long-term contract, Bedard would likely be a UFA when his next contract expires.

As for when this deal gets done, it could take up a good chunk of the summer, as both parties are in the early stages of talks at the moment. With a flurry of big-ticket RFA extensions throughout the league on the horizon, Bedard could be the first domino to fall that sets the benchmark for the rest.

Davidson has his most important offseason as GM ahead of him. No task is more crucial than this Bedard extension. It is up to him to get pen to paper and get going on surrounding Bedard with the tools needed to get this team back into the playoffs soon.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow