Connor Bedard made his message clear over the weekend, and the Blackhawks wasted no time making sure everybody heard it.
The Chicago star posted on his Instagram account, a move that backed up what Nestor Quixtan wrote: Bedard is committed to the Blackhawks, even if that commitment isn’t cheap. Chicago’s social media team then piled on the moment, taking a little victory lap for anyone who thought Bedard might sign an offer sheet and head out of town.
icymi: Connor is staying in Chicago 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/QjPi39zJs1
- Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 19, 2026
That kind of certainty matters for a Blackhawks team whose 2026-27 success could hinge on how it handles the opening stretch of the season without its top player. The question hanging over Chicago is simple enough: can it survive the first few weeks?
There was also a note from the past tied to the Blackhawks on this date in 2016, when Brad Richards announced his retirement after 15 NHL seasons. Richards spent the 2014-15 season in Chicago, centering Patrick Kane for much of the year. He finished the regular season with 12 goals and 37 points, then added three goals and 14 points during the Stanley Cup run.
The Blackhawks’ birthday list for July 20 includes Lorne Davis, Murray Craven, Antoine Vermette, Ryan Stanton, and Andrew Shaw.
Elsewhere in the NHL, Brandon Saad may be eyeing a move overseas after 15 NHL seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. Johan Svensson reported that Brynas IF and Djugardens IF, two Swedish Hockey League teams, are showing interest in him.
The Blue Jackets had news of their own, with Mark Scheig reporting that center Isac Lundestrom underwent successful Achilles surgery. He is expected back in early November.
And Columbus general manager Don Waddell made his stance on offer sheets unmistakable, telling Brian Hedger that he will match any offer sheet given to Adam Fantilli. That came after the Leo Carlsson fiasco, which apparently left a mark.
On the international front, the NHL’s All-Star projections kept rolling. After Saturday’s look at Sweden’s team for the 2027 NHL All-Star Game, the league shifted to Finland on Sunday.
In Other News...
What Really Helped Convince Connor Bedard The Blackhawks Are Serious
Connor Bedards long-term future in Chicago came into sharper focus after the Blackhawks made a move that signaled they are trying to build something more than just a promising young core. The addition of Bowen Byram gave the organization another proven piece to pair with its rising talent, and it did not go unnoticed by the franchise center as contract talks moved toward an extension.
What stood out most was how the deal seemed to reinforce the message the Blackhawks have been trying to send: this is not a rebuild stuck in neutral. Bedard has been looking for signs that the team is serious about winning sooner rather than later, and the Byram trade appears to have helped answer at least part of that question, even if the full story behind the extension is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedard Just Added Fuel To Patrick Kane Buzz
Connor Bedards new long-term deal with the Blackhawks locked in the face of the franchise, but it also gave Chicago another reminder of how much star power still matters around this rebuild. With Patrick Kane still on the market, Bedard made it clear he would welcome the chance to share the ice with the former Blackhawks icon again, adding a little more intrigue to a name that never really leaves the conversation in Chicago.
For a team trying to turn promise into something bigger, the idea of Kane coming back carries obvious appeal beyond nostalgia. Bedards comments only sharpened that buzz, since a reunion would give the Blackhawks a proven veteran presence and one of the leagues most recognizable returning storylines, even as the final landing spot for Kane remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Quietly Made A Move That May Have Helped Bedard Commit
The Blackhawks summer work has not been only about roster fit and cap planning. Their acquisition of Bowen Byram also appears to have carried a quieter benefit, one tied to Connor Bedard and the long-standing connection between the two. In a league where star players notice everything around them, Chicagos move seems to have resonated beyond the blue line and into the bigger picture of keeping its franchise centerpiece comfortable with the direction of the team.
Byrams arrival may have mattered in a way that does not show up in the box score, giving the Blackhawks another layer of value from a deal that was already about improving the lineup. For a rebuilding club trying to convince Bedard that the next steps are worth taking together, those kinds of details can matter just as much as the on-ice ones, and this is one of the reasons the move drew attention inside the organization. [Read more 🡒]