The Chicago Blackhawks handed Connor Bedard the captaincy on Tuesday, naming him the 37th captain in franchise history.
It’s the next big step in a path the Blackhawks mapped out when they took Bedard with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. They saw him as the player who could eventually pull the organization back to where it wants to be, and so far he’s backed up plenty of that faith.
Bedard has already become an All-Star-level producer. Through 219 career games, he has 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points. Even with an injury during 2025-26, he still managed 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games.
The numbers point to where the ceiling still sits. He’s not there yet as a top-ten player, but the Blackhawks are clearly betting that the next jump is coming - the kind that brings him closer to 100-point seasons as his health and experience continue to build.
Tuesday’s announcement also gives Bedard the role that had belonged to Nick Foligno, who stepped in and did a wonderful job after Jonathan Toews. Now the torch is moving to Bedard, and with it comes the responsibility of carrying the team’s next chapter.
The Blackhawks had already signaled this direction last year, when Bedard was given an A on a permanent basis after the club traded away all of its leaders at the deadline. That letter has now become a C.
It’s an honor that fits the moment. Bedard is locked in long term, he produces, and he already commands major respect inside the room. He’s also one of the 3 most recognizable male athletes in the city of Chicago.
For the Blackhawks, this is bigger than a ceremonial move. So much of what happens next depends on Bedard delivering on the promise they’ve attached to him from day one. They believe in him, he believes in them, and that makes this a feel-good story - but the real work is still ahead if this team is going to fight its way back into contention.
The easy part is done. Bedard has the C now. What comes next is about turning all that talent, drive, and trust into something even larger.
In Other News...
Connor Bedard Just Became The Face Of Chicago's Rebuild
The Blackhawks have officially handed the captaincy to Connor Bedard, a move that confirms what has been building for months around the franchises rebuild. After Nick Foligno was traded to the Minnesota Wild, Chicago moved on quickly and put the C on the player it views as the centerpiece of its next era.
For Bedard, the timing fits neatly with a season that has already changed the conversation around his place in the league. He is coming off career highs across the board and has already locked in a long-term extension, giving the Blackhawks a young captain whose production and contract both point toward him being the organizations face for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Face One Brutal Test Before Bedard Can Save Them
Connor Bedards left-shoulder surgery has put the Blackhawks in a difficult spot just as the season begins, depriving them of the player around whom so much of their rebuild is built. The injury came in July, and the recovery timeline means Chicago will have to navigate a tough opening stretch without its top center, forcing the rest of the roster to absorb a larger share of the workload than it expected.
Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, Bowen Byram and Patrick Kane are among the players who will be asked to help bridge the gap while Bedard is out. It is a meaningful early test for a team already facing a demanding schedule, because the first weeks of the season could shape how much ground the Blackhawks have to make up once their centerpiece is finally back. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedard Just Changed Everything About The Blackhawks Future
Connor Bedards rise in Chicago took another major step when he was named the 37th captain in Blackhawks history, a move that underscores how quickly the organization has shifted its focus to him. After serving as an alternate captain last season, Bedard now inherits the role from Nick Foligno and becomes the second-youngest captain the franchise has ever had, a clear signal that the Blackhawks see him as the face of what comes next.
The timing adds another layer to the story, though, because Bedard is also set to miss the start of the 2026-27 season following left shoulder surgery this summer. So while the captaincy cements his standing inside the room and in the larger franchise picture, Chicago will have to navigate the early part of next year without its newest leader on the ice, leaving an obvious question about how the Blackhawks handle that stretch until he returns. [Read more 🡒]