Connor Bedard is the next man to wear the “C” in Chicago.
The Blackhawks announced Tuesday that Bedard has been named the 37th captain in franchise history, putting the 21-year-old center at the front of the franchise’s next chapter. He steps into the role after Nick Foligno, who served as captain from September 2024 until he was traded to the Minnesota Wild at the Trade Deadline last March.
Bedard’s rise to the job comes after another strong offensive season. In 2025-26, he posted 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games, all career highs. Across three NHL seasons, he now has 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points in 219 career games.
The Blackhawks also committed long term to their young star this summer, signing Bedard to a five-year, $75-million contract extension. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $15 million, and he will own the NHL’s third-highest cap hit in 2026-27.
Chicago made Bedard the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and his production has followed him at every stop. Before turning pro, he spent three seasons with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, where he scored 134 goals and added 137 assists for 271 points in 134 regular-season games.
He has also built a decorated international résumé for Canada. Bedard helped Canada win back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championship gold medals in 2022 and 2023, collecting 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 14 games across the two tournaments. He is Canada’s all-time leader in goals and points at the World Junior level.
Late Monday night, Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Brian McGonagle was the first to report that Bedard would be the next Blackhawks player to be named captain.
Chicago’s team context is part of the picture too. The Blackhawks finished in the Central Division and had the second-worst record in both the Western Conference and the NHL. They were 18 points behind a Wildcard spot in the West.
Tyler Bertuzzi led the club with a career-high 32 goals, while Bedard paced the team in assists with 45 and points with 75.
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