Chicago Blackhawks fans got a little room to exhale after the Philadelphia Flyers’ stunning offer sheet for Leo Carlsson sent the NHL into a frenzy.
For a moment, the obvious nightmare flashed across Chicago: could Connor Bedard be next? An offer sheet for the Blackhawks’ franchise centerpiece would put the organization in a brutal spot, forcing it to match or risk losing him.
But on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman poured cold water on that idea.
"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."
Even with that optimism, Friedman didn’t sound ready to rule anything out completely. "I just personally wouldn't chance anything anymore."
The Carlsson deal is the one that has everyone talking. Philadelphia used an offer sheet on the Anaheim Ducks’ second overall pick from the 2023 Draft, and the price tag is massive: an average of $18 million over five years.
If Anaheim matches, Carlsson would become the highest-paid player in the NHL in just his fourth season. If the Ducks decline, they’d get a first-round pick from the Flyers in each of the next four seasons, with compensation tied to the contract AAV.
That’s why Bedard’s name keeps coming up. He and Carlsson were drafted one spot apart in 2023, and teams would almost certainly view them through a similar lens if they ever decided to make a run at an offer sheet.
In the 2025 season, Bedard has 203 points in 219 games, while Carlsson has 241 points in his 201 games played. Bedard’s point total is lower, but being the No. 1 pick gives his name extra weight.
For Chicago, the obvious move is simple: get Bedard locked in before anyone can even think about making a play. Friedman’s comments suggest the Blackhawks may not have much to fear on the relationship front, and that matters. If Bedard wants to stay, a long-term deal should be reachable, even if the Carlsson contract nudges the conversation on salary.
There is, though, another wrinkle hanging over all of this: Bedard’s health. As of Monday, Friedman said he hadn’t heard whether the injury Bedard suffered during off-season ice time in Vancouver was serious.
The concern is real because Bedard has already dealt with injury trouble early in his career, missing time with a shoulder injury last season. This latest issue involves the opposite shoulder, which only adds more uncertainty to the picture.
"🚨BREAKING: Connor Bedard left practice today after falling awkwardly on his left shoulder.
Note: The way he skated off the ice holding his arm closely resembled the incident in December. Severity unknown at this point. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/0oOzvrskGR
- Ryan McGregor (@RyanmcgregorCHI) July 2, 2026"
That raises the obvious question: would a team really use an offer sheet on an injured Bedard? And if it did, would the injury affect his price? Those answers are still coming.
What isn’t really up for debate is what Chicago would do if an offer sheet actually landed. The Blackhawks would have to match it.
Bedard is the future of the franchise, and even though he hasn’t fully hit his stride yet, he’s already shown why he arrived with so much hype. He came into the league with Connor McDavid comparisons, won the Calder Trophy despite a slower start in his first NHL season, and has improved his production every year without yet playing a full season.
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