Connor Bedard was never a real offer-sheet target for the Canadiens, no matter how much the idea might have stirred up Montreal fans.
The conversation picked up again after the Philadelphia Flyers used an offer sheet on Leo Carlsson, which naturally reopened the door to speculation around the league. Bedard’s name was tossed into the mix in plenty of bold predictions and hypothetical scenarios. But according to his agent, Don Meehan, there was never any genuine opening there.
"Connor made it clear even after the (Carlsson) offer sheet - and before the offer sheet - that he had no intention of signing an offer sheet, that he was happy in Chicago, believed in the organization, believed in his teammates, and was quite content and happy to stay exactly where he was in Chicago."
That pretty much shuts the book on the idea.
Bedard, the first overall pick in 2023, has already put together a massive season, posting 75 points, including 30 goals, in 69 games during the 2025-2026 campaign. Even with that kind of production, and even with the leverage that comes with a player of his stature, he chose not to use the Carlsson situation as a path to more money or a new destination.
Instead, Bedard appears locked into Kyle Davidson’s vision in Chicago. The Blackhawks have built their future around him, and he seems intent on honoring that commitment rather than creating friction with the organization that backed him from the start.
For Montreal, that means the dream scenario never really existed. The Canadiens may have been part of the chatter, but in this case, they were never truly in the running.
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Canadiens Trade Talk Suddenly Fits The Plan Fans Have Debated All Summer
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What makes the conversation interesting is that the options being discussed all bring something a little different to the table, from centre-wing versatility to a more direct scoring threat. Hughes has shown a willingness to keep looking for moves that match the teams long-term plan, and this is the kind of speculation that naturally gets fans talking because it feels less like a random rumor and more like the sort of swing Montreal has been waiting to make. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Let A Real Free Agency Chance Quietly Slip Away
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Mantha was looking for a longer-term commitment, and Montreal never got comfortable enough with the fit to keep pushing. Hughes has made it clear the Canadiens are not interested in forcing a move just to say they were active, and this was another example of that caution shaping the roster, even if it meant letting a recognizable name move on. [Read more 🡒]