The rumors have swirled almost since Connor Bedard was drafted. Whether it’s about the team’s losing or his linemates, you don’t have to go far on the internet to find someone who has claimed Bedard is dissatisfied and wants out of Chicago as soon as possible.
The thing is Bedard has never indicated any of that himself. His actions and words have always reflected a player who believes in his teammates and what the Blackhawks are building.
His contract extension was the full proof of that. He could have signed for fewer years. He could have signed for more money. But agreeing to an extension of five years and an annual average value of $15 million, he committed to the Blackhawks for long enough where they’ll have plenty of time to win with him on this contract and at a price where he likely left money on the table and potentially allows the Blackhawks to use that elsewhere to improve the team. No one would have blamed him if he demanded five years at $18 million per, as Leo Carlsson got after signing an offer sheet.
“I’m very happy with the amount of money I’m making,” Bedard said. “It’s a lot. I think just with that, obviously the offer sheet is different as well, with a team trying to take a guy. It’s going to be a different value. That didn’t change anything I was thinking.
“Like I’ve said so much and it’s not anything fake, Chicago’s the only place I want to play. Just seeing the growth of our young guys and just how good of a group we are, in the room how tight it is, how much fun we have. I’m very happy to get this deal signed, just focus on the team and excited to get back and get going.”
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Bedard repeatedly mentioned the bond this young Blackhawks team has throughout his 20-minute video call with reporters on Monday, saying how much camaraderie they have together and how much they believe in each other. It followed up a pointed comment by his agent, Don Meehan, who on Saturday told The Athletic — essentially unprompted — that Bedard bristles at any criticism of the roster situation in Chicago.
“He really believes in his teammates, and he doesn’t suffer any constructive criticism of the team or his teammates well,” Meehan said. “He doesn’t tolerate that. He believes, and he’s totally committed.”
Not that those comments will stop beleaguered Vancouver fans and pundits from penciling Bedard in on the 2031-32 Canucks roster, of course.
No one who knows Bedard will be surprised if he’s pushing to play before the original four-month timetable following shoulder surgery on July 8. Bedard didn’t dismiss that possibility, but he knows he has to do what’s right for his shoulder.
“We’ll see,” Bedard said. “All I can do is everything in my power to get it right as quick as possible. Whether that’s quicker than four months, there’s obviously that timeline right now, but I’m just going to do everything I can day to day to try and get back as quick as possible. At the end of the day, you have to be safe and feel comfortable with it. Whenever that is, it is. I’m going to do everything I can, for sure.”
Bedard’s decision to have the surgery was about doing what was best for his long-term outlook. Last season, he injured his other shoulder and decided then it was best not to have surgery.
Ultimately, Bedard doesn’t have any concern about future injuries.
“Once you’re playing hockey, you’re playing hockey,” he said. “You can’t go out there scared of anything. … But you do everything you can — you always do everything you can — to try to prevent injury and stay healthy. It’s a terrible part of the game, but for me, to have this next little bit and go through that adversity and try to get stronger mentally in that way, that’s how I’m looking at it. And then come back and be in games, you’re not going to be scared, you’re going to be playing your game.”
Bowen Byram already expressed his excitement about playing with Bedard. Bedard countered with his own praise for Byram’s game and, like the Blackhawks, highlighted his potential outside of Colorado and Buffalo.
“Getting Bo, he’s someone who’s going to be one of the best D-men in the league,” Bedard said. “He’s always shown that. When you play behind Cale (Makar) and (Rasmus) Dahlin, it’s not easy to take their spots. Just for him to get that opportunity to be that No. 1 and prove himself in that way, and he’s going to do it. He’s one of the most skilled players in the league. Just his motivation to prove that is unbelievable, and his excitement to be with us is great for the team.”
Bedard had nothing but positive things to say about the Blackhawks’ offseason additions. He did have a specific reason why he was particularly happy to have Ian Cole on his side for a change.
“I think Ian Cole probably landed the most cross-checks on me out of anyone else in my life, but now he’s my teammate and we’re both going to go to war for each other, which is the beautiful thing about hockey,” Bedard said.
As for the cheeky $9.8 million signing bonus for the next five years, Bedard, who wears No. 98, couldn’t take credit.
“That was them,” he said. “Once this deal came, I don’t know much about the insides of it, the bonuses and everything. That was the first thing they offered, so it’s neat of them to do that. I would’ve been fine with whatever, but it’s funny it turned out that way and I’m happy. It’s pretty cool.”
The Blackhawks were the second-lowest-scoring team in the league last season, with just 2.56 goals per game. When asked what the new additions — players such as Byram and rookie Roman Kantserov — can do to improve that offense, Bedard took it one step further.
“We want to take a big step this year; we want to be a playoff team,” he said. “That’s our only goal. To add that high-end skill and also the other additions — you add guys who are physical and can help on the other end of the ice, which is just as important — our adds are going to (make) a huge difference. We feel good about our group, and what we’ve got going in. We’re extremely confident in the room and the growth we’ve all had this summer. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Chicago missed the playoffs by 18 points last season.
The Blackhawks haven’t had a captain since trading Nick Foligno to Minnesota at the trade deadline, but it’s not hard to envision Bedard with a “C” on his sweater this coming season.
“It would be special, for sure,” he said. “Just getting to play for the Blackhawks organization in general, without any of that, is the best thing in the world. If anyone would become a captain, if it’s someone else, I’d be just as happy for them. But if I was able to get that honor, it would be so special. I know it’s something I wouldn’t take for granted for a second. But we’ve got so many guys in the room that can lead. If I’m chosen for that, that would be unbelievable, for sure.”
