Connor Bedard’s next deal is already sounding like a major number, and the latest reporting points to a figure that would put him in the same neighborhood as one of the NHL’s biggest earners.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Bedard opened extension talks last month, and while earlier reports only suggested he was chasing a hefty raise, NHL Insider Irfaan Gaffar said on DFO Rundown Insider Edition that the number Bedard is eyeing is $17 million in average annual value. Gaffar tied that target to Kirill Kaprizov’s money with the Minnesota Wild.
“Connor Bedard is in for a payday. He saw Bowen Byram get a payday.
I think that Connor Bedard is looking at Kirill Kaprizov money... I think that is a situation and that is a number that he’s looking at, and I do strongly believe that he thinks he deserves it.
I’m not entirely sure the Chicago Blackhawks as an organization are close to that number when discussing Connor Bedard right now," Gaffard said.
The ask makes sense when you look at what Bedard just did in a 2025-26 season where the Blackhawks still fell short of the playoffs. He played 69 games, scored 30 goals and added 45 assists for 75 points.
That contract conversation now comes with an injury concern hanging over it. Bedard was hurt during offseason training after suffering an upper-body injury that forced him to leave practice early.
Blackhawks Insider Ryan McGregor reported on X that Bedard exited after falling awkwardly on his shoulder. McGregor also said the severity of the injury is unclear, but the way Bedard skated off looked similar to what happened in December.
That December setback came on December 12th, 2025, when Bedard injured his right shoulder in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He missed four weeks after that and was unable to take faceoffs until after the Winter Olympics break.
McGregor’s post was enough to set off alarm bells, and a video of Bedard leaving practice while screaming in pain only added to the concern. For now, the full extent of the injury remains unknown, and a team spokesperson told The Athletic there won’t be any updates at least until Monday.
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