Although the return of “Showtime” Kane to Chicago led many to believe—or wish—that he would become the franchise’s captain, there was an obvious choice in Bedard. Even Kane, who took the decision with grace and had kind words for Bedard, agreed.

“It makes sense in a lot of ways. Kind of a no-brainer,” Kane said about the Blackhawks’ naming of Bedard as team captain.

Kane’s window closed

It takes a lot for Kane to make such a statement. His captaincy window has now closed in Chicago. Hopefully, another Stanley Cup window has opened, instead. As big a legend as he is in the City of Big Shoulders, Kane has never worn the C for the Hawks. Some leaders don’t need a letter on their jerseys, though.

Still, just in case, the Blackhawks have announced Kane will serve as an alternate captain during the 2026-27 NHL season. Bedard will be captain, while Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi will serve as the alternates. Although the team will look at Kane for guidance and leadership, Kane admitted he’s learning valuable lessons himself.

“These guys want to be good players. It’s pushing me in a way, too,” Kane commented. “[I’m] 37, turning 38 and accomplished some great things, but it still feels like there’s a lot left on the table and a lot left to accomplish — because these guys haven’t done it and they’re pushing to do it.”

Last time Chicago named a young captain

Although being led by a 21-year-old at 37 may be a strange feeling for Kane, he has been here before and knows how much success the Blackhawks had the last time they named a captain at such a young age. Back in 2008, the Hawks named Jonathan Toews (20 years, 79 days) as captain.

In fact, Bedard became the second-youngest captain in franchise history, behind only Toews. If the Bedard-led Hawks can have even a third of the success Toews’ dynasty had, then it’s about to become a fun time to be a Blackhawks fan in the NHL.

Blackhawks’ last five captains

Based on all the progress fans have seen from the surgery rehab center throughout the offseason, Bedard could prove the Blackhawks’ initial timeline for his return wrong. However, he knows better than to rush his way back into NHL action and risk suffering a setback.

Making his first statements as captain of the Blackhawks, Bedard made sure not to make promises he may not be able to deliver on—or that may not be wise to make.

“I’m on the ice doing most of everything. Just working in a bit more each day. Timeline-wise, I don’t really know, it’s kind of see as it progresses,” Bedard said during his captain-introductory press conference on Tuesday. “But I’m feeling good and just doing everything I can to get back as soon as possible. It’s obviously going to be tough not playing the first bit [of the season].”

Bedard isn’t away from the team despite injury

Regardless of his cautious approach to a crucial stage of his recovery journey, Bedard did guarantee the organization and every fan in Chicago that he will do his best to be back as soon as possible. For the time being, that’s all the fanbase wants to hear from Bedard.

Even if the Hawks are set to start the 2026-27 NHL season without their brand-new captain on the ice, there’s a lot to be excited about going into the campaign. Plus, Bedard was quick to confess that while being away from the ice stings, he won’t feel as if he’s missing out on valuable time with the rest of the team, as the group inside the locker room is very close.

“We’re together so much away from the rink that you don’t feel like you’re isolated or anything,” Bedard added. “You feel like you’re still part of the team every day, so that’s the biggest thing. When you’re hurt, you’re not around the guys and you miss being a part of that, but I don’t think it will feel like that at all. We’re going to have a great start without me and I can’t wait to join whenever that is.”

Blackhawks’ start to the season

The Blackhawks will make their debut in the 2026-27 NHL season on Sept. 29, when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Chicago’s home opener will be on Oct. 6 against the St. Louis Blues. Barring a miraculous—or reckless—rehab, Bedard will be absent that night at the United Center, missing Patrick Kane’s first game back in the Windy City.

• Sept. 29: at Vegas Golden Knights
• Oct. 1: at Utah Mammoth
• Oct. 3: at Buffalo Sabres
• Oct. 6: vs St. Louis Blues
• Oct. 8: at New York Islanders

If Bedard can keep it up, he might not miss much time at all in the upcoming NHL campaign. Or indeed, he may, but more as a precaution by the Blackhawks than because he truly needs to be sidelined.

“Bedard continues to ramp up his work as he rehabs from his summer shoulder injury. He was little more aggressive with the shooting today than he was from what I saw on Friday, and he was moving pretty well on the ice. All of this is very encouraging,” Tab Bamford reported on Bleacher Nation after the Blackhawks’ unofficial team practice on Monday.

Bedard rehabbing from shoulder surgery

When the Blackhawks announced Bedard had undergone offseason surgery on his left shoulder, the team stated he would be out for four months, with an estimated return set for November.

Clearly, Bedard wants to prove the timeline wrong and be back—if it were up to him—for the season opener in Las Vegas on Sept. 29. He may be a star and look even older than he is when he talks and leads the Hawks on a nightly basis, but Bedard is still 21 years old and learning life in the NHL. Some things he may still not know better. It’s up to Chicago not to mess things up with his recovery from surgery on his left shoulder.

“Bedard is still skating on his own; he is not medically cleared to resume skating with contact with the rest of the Blackhawks,” Bamford added in his report. For the time being, any suggestion that Bedard will be back on a certain date is only a wild guess and should be taken as such.

Bedard could be healthy, but not active

Still, what’s indeed probable is that Bedard beats his original recovery timeline. It may take less time than the Blackhawks imagined for Bedard to be healthy and fit to play. Whether he does play or not, that’s a whole different question. Bedard may hope to talk himself into the lineup and prove his form in practice, but Jeff Blashill will have to know better.

As intense as scrimmages in practice can be, Bedard’s teammates will always hold back a bit before making contact with him, especially if he’s yet to make his official return to NHL action. The Blackhawks will only get one chance at nailing Bedard’s return game, and they can’t mess it up.

There are no refunds, and the franchise player is at stake in a season as paramount as the upcoming one will be for the entire organization. Too many jobs will be on the line in Windy City come fall. And they will all go as far as Bedard can take them.

That’s right, Chicago isn’t scared of talking Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, in order to talk it into existence, Bedard will likely have to play a big role. Thus, it’s reasonable to think Bedard may feel obliged to rush his way back and return to the ice as soon as possible.

After the star and potential new captain was spotted practicing with Patrick Kane and the rest of the team at Blackhawks Ice Center, fans grew anxious and worried that he may be making too much progress too fast. A report dispelled those concerns, stating Bedard is right on cue and at the stage Chicago expected him to be.

“From what I’m hearing, Connor Bedard’s recovery is going as planned so far. He was expected to be skating at this point,” Scott Powers of The Athletic stated on X. “He’s obviously restricted what he can do on the ice for now. Whether he’s deemed ahead of schedule and can return earlier will be something the Blackhawks asses as his rehab progresses.“

What happened to Bedard?

Gearing up for a crucial season with the Blackhawks—his fourth in the NHL—Bedard suffered a shoulder injury while practicing in his hometown of Vancouver over the summer.

Bedard underwent successful surgery to repair his left shoulder and was assigned a four-month timeline. Based on his original timeline, Bedard is expected to be back in November, missing the first month of the 2026-27 campaign. However, only two months after the surgery, the 21-year-old is already skating and, though moderately, even shooting.

Bedard’s medical history

Health concerns have become a serious issue for the Blackhawks regarding Bedard. The former first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft missed 13 games last season, raising his total games missed throughout his three-year career to 27. Bedard has only played one full season (2024-25) in his career.

Still, the Blackhawks don’t need Bedard to challenge for the Ironman record; they want him to be a goal-and-assists machine whenever he is on the ice. While many mistakenly assume Bedard’s latest setback is related to the “freak accident” that resulted in a shoulder injury last season, it’s actually his other (left) shoulder this time.

Thus, while it’s reasonable to be wary of Bedard’s health issues, this isn’t a result of him being rushed into action before. And it may be why fans have nothing to worry about with Chicago rushing Bedard now. It may feel like he’s making too much progress even for his own good, but Bedard is actually right on schedule.

Heading into the 2026-27 NHL campaign, Bedard finally moved off his RFA status and signed a long extension with the Blackhawks. Under his current deal, Bedard will make an average salary of $15 million over the next five years. Bedard’s extension runs through 2031, when he will become an UFA at the age of 25.

During the 2026-27 NHL season, however, Bedard will earn a total salary of $17 million, according to PuckPedia. Celebrini, on the other hand, won’t come close to that figure. The Sharks will pay Celebrini a salary of $975,000 next season because he is still under his entry-level contract.

Celebrini is still on rookie contract

The record-breaking deal Celebrini signed—setting the highest average annual value (AAV) in NHL history—won’t kick in until the 2027-28 season. The wait will be well worth it, though.

In 2027-28, Celebrini is set to earn a $20.8 million salary from the Sharks. As things stand, that would be the highest annual salary in the NHL two seasons from now. During the 2027-28 campaign, the North Vancouver duo’s salaries will combine for a total of $36.8 million.

However, with pending unrestricted free agents such as Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Jason Robertson, combined with the league’s rising salary cap, many around the NHL wonder whether another record-breaking contract could be signed in the near future.

Bedard’s deal puts him in great spot

Based on AAV, Bedard ranks fourth among all NHL contracts (third if only active contracts are considered, which would leave Celebrini out of the equation). In terms of total value, however, Bedard’s five-year, $75 million contract falls all the way to 35th in the league.

Still, the 21-year-old may not have wanted it any other way. In 2031, Bedard will get the chance to test free agency as a 25-year-old. With his prime years still ahead of him and coming off character-testing seasons with the Blackhawks, Bedard could be in line for a massive payday on the open market.

And even if he wants to stay in Chicago, the possibility of losing him in free agency would likely push the Blackhawks to go above and beyond with a top-of-the-market offer. All things considered, the timing couldn’t be much better for the North Vancouver native. It isn’t luck, though. This is exactly what Bedard’s camp was after and why it had no interest in signing a maximum-term deal.

“Everyone he’s played with, he’s made them better,” Bedard said during an interview on OverDrive. “Probably the best hands ever in the history of hockey and one of the best passers, some of the best IQ. So if it’s me or whoever is playing on his line, it’s going to make that player so much better. I’d be very lucky to get some passes from him for sure.”

Bedard didn’t go over the top with his statement, yet he got his message across and made it clear just how much he’d like to play with arguably the best American skater in NHL history. The Blackhawks have time to decide what the best course of action is, and Bedard will likely be back on the ice by late October-November, but the young star has made his pitch.

Much-needed help for Bedard

It’s been a long time coming, but Bedard finally has the chance to play alongside an elite talent on Chicago’s top unit—even if it comes in the form of a 37-year-old Kane. Better late than never.

The Blackhawks’ potential forward lines are one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the new season, and even if Bedard isn’t available on opening night, he is already looking forward to sharing the ice with “Showtime.”

In the meantime, Bedard’s comments serve as a subtle “save me a spot” message to the organization. If one thing is clear, is that when Bedard speaks, Chicago listens.

Will Kane and Bedard play together?

Whether pairing Kane and Bedard on the top line is the right move, or whether the Blackhawks would be better off spreading out their talent across the top six, only time will tell. As with many things in Chicago lately, it will likely come down to trial and error. Those are the growing pains that accompany every NHL rebuild.

By now, the Blackhawks are all too familiar with them, and Kane will have to get used to them as well. It’s exactly what he signed up for when he put pen to paper on his new contract, a deal that underscores the organization’s urgency to help Bedard and the rest of the roster take the next step.

With Kane back in town, the Blackhawks finally got the missing piece to their top six group. Although Bedard won’t be available to play in the first games of the NHL season, Chicago is confident it can weather the storm, and Kane’s arrival is perfect to accomplish that.

Whether Kane will join Bedard on the first line or play alongside the young duo of Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell remains uncertain, and head coach Jeff Blashill has plenty of time to figure that out. For the time being, the Blackhawks are pleased to look at their top six and see it filled with possibilities. For the first time in a long while, Chicago has options, and that’s all they could ask for right now.

Blackhawks’ potential lineup

Although Kane will turn 38 midway through the upcoming season, he has proven he can still hang with the best players and compete against the top lines in the NHL. Moreover, it’d be surprising for the Hawks to leave him out of the top six after agreeing to pay him $8 million per season over the next two years. If Chicago were after a bottom-six player, it could’ve signed three players for the price of Kane.

Clearly, Kane will headline the top six, and perhaps the top unit alongside Bedard. At the end of the day, that’s what fans want to see. Even if only sporadically, Nos. 98 and 88 will join forces time and time again.

How Chicago could adjust to Bedard’s injury

With Bedard out to start the campaign, there’s reason to believe Nazar could center the top forward line, while Frondell anchors the second line. Other pieces would also have to be reshuffled to fill the vacant spots, but the change down the middle would be the most notable. Thus, barring new injuries or setbacks, this is how the Hawks may lineup during their season opener:

As reported by Elliotte Friedman, Patrick Kane has signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Under the deal, Kane gets the longer stay in Chicago he was reportedly after, rather than going through yet another contract year and nerve-racking offseason. “Showtime” is back in the City of Big Shoulders and is setting up shop on Michigan Avenue through the 2027-28 NHL season.

Although Bedard will be sidelined to start the NHL regular season (expected to miss September and October), Kane’s arrival should do wonders for the 21-year-old entering his fourth year in the league. Judging by how much money Chicago is investing in Kane at 37 (will turn 38 on Nov. 19), it’s clear the Blackhawks are growing anxious, and they don’t care to hide that from the rest of the league.

Kane’s new contract sets him for big raise

Coming off three consecutive one-year deals with the Detroit Red Wings, Kane informed the organization in Motor City he wouldn’t return—the franchise’s 10th straight playoff miss and Dylan Larkin’s ‘no way out’ trade request likely proved to be the last straw. It paid off for Kane, who is now set to make significantly more than he did in Detroit.

Kane earned a total of $9.75 million across his three seasons with the Red Wings. He will earn almost that much in just his first year back in Chi-town. During the 2026-27 NHL season, Kane will be the second-highest-paid player on the roster behind Bedard ($17 million salary this season).

In 2027-28, however, Kane will also drop behind Bowen Byram, whose six-year, $75 million extension will come into effect. Still, considering how much he was making in Detroit, Kane can’t complain. The cherry on top is that he gets to call the United Center home once again.

An unbeatable offer

While deciding between his hometown club and the organization that drafted him first overall was a difficult choice for Kane, the moment Chicago made its bid, the debate was probably over. No one saw such a deal coming, and it was certainly an offer the Sabres couldn’t match—and probably wouldn’t have been interested in matching.

The Sabres have roughly $5 million available in cap space, so they wouldn’t have been able to accommodate an $8 million AAV deal for the veteran Kane. Chicago, on the other hand, was well below the salary cap and was essentially negotiating with a blank check. In the end, the most logical outcome came to pass, and Kane signed with the Blackhawks.

Who knows? Maybe things don’t work out and Kane is traded to the Sabres before the deadline (more likely in 2028). For the time being, though, No. 88 is back in Chicago, and it seems that’s where he’ll spend the rest of his career.

“I hope so. I don’t know what I could say to persuade [Kane’s] decision. We’d all be so excited to have a player and a guy like that,” Bedard admitted, via Sportsnet. “I can’t imagine his first game back at the [United Center], the reaction he would get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans, as well. That would be incredible to get to play with him and learn from him. Hopefully he decides to come back. It would make us a way better team. He’s still an amazing player.”

Bedard has long yearned for an elite teammate to join his line and the squad in Chicago. Through his first three seasons in the NHL, Bedard has won the Calder Memorial Trophy and put up impressive numbers, but he’s been about as far from team success as anyone could be.

Although he’ll turn 38 next season, Kane could still help the Blackhawks. He knows his way around the city and the organization, has plenty of experience when it comes to winning, and could add veteran leadership to one of the youngest lineups in the league.

Kane’s status

After signing one-year deals with the Detroit Red Wings in three consecutive free agencies, it seems Kane has had enough of Detroit, or vice versa. Either way, it seems “Showtime” won’t be back in Motor City for the 2026-27 NHL season.

According to a report from Chris Chelios, Kane’s pending decision will come down to the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks. For the time being, Kane remains a UFA ahead of the upcoming NHL campaign.

Last season, he signed a one-year, $3 million deal. If he’s looking for anything around that neighborhood, there’s no financial excuse as to why Chicago wouldn’t go after him. As things stand, the Hawks have about $14 million available in cap space, per PuckPedia.

Bedard on staying in Chicago

Although the offseason shoulder injury was an ice-cold bucket for Bedard ahead of a crucial year with the Blackhawks, he remains in high spirits, and he made that clear as he addressed the media for the first time since signing the five-year extension.

After fellow RFA Leo Carlsson signed an offer sheet, there was speculation Bedard could go down a similar path. However, the recently turned 21-year-old (July 17) didn’t plan to go anywhere and wasn’t going to force his team’s hand, no matter how long it took to settle on a new contract.

“Like I’ve said so much — and it’s not anything fake — Chicago is really the only place I want to play,” Bedard said, via Chicago Sun-Times. “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 and just focus on the team.”

Bedard embraces adversity amid injury recovery

While fans around the league often complain about how uneventful the offseason can sometimes be, the Hawks would actually like some calm for a change. On July 8, the Blackhawks announced Bedard had undergone successful surgery on his left shoulder and will be out for approximately four months. That means Bedard will likely miss the first month of the 2026-27 campaign.

Though it’s deflating to suffer what he called a “fluky” injury and to miss games due to health reasons for the third time in four seasons in the league, Bedard believes it could all work out for the better.

‘‘It’s a terrible part of the game,’’ Bedard admitted, per Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘But for me, to have this next little bit and go through that adversity and try to get stronger mentally, that’s how I’m looking at it. And then [when I] come back [I’m] not going to be scared.’’

Big season loading for Bedard

A big season awaits Bedard, one in which the Blackhawks will look to take a firm step forward. Perhaps it will also be Bedard’s first year as captain in the NHL. Chicago has yet to announce who will wear the “C.” If Kane returns, it could complicate Bedard’s candidacy—or it may not.

Only time will tell, and there’s plenty of it left before the puck drops on the Hawks’ season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29 at T-Mobile Arena.

Both Bedard and the Hawks want to make it work, so the process should not take long. However, the player’s camp may be unwilling to budge on the term of the pending deal. It shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, but it may be something that Chicago comes back to regret.

“I don’t think Bedard is [going to re-sign for] full term. I think it’ll be shorter,” David Pagnotta said on Oilers Nation Everyday. According to Pagnotta, if Bedard chose to re-sign for the full term (seven or eight years), he could make up to $16–17 million in AAV. Such a contract would make him the highest-paid center in the NHL, surpassing Leon Draisaitl’s $14M AAV.

Whether that value is realistic or justified for Bedard—who has yet to record a 100-point season—is a different question. In his defense, it is hard to put up that many points while playing on one of the worst and shallowest rosters in the league.

Contract terms implications for Bedard

By choosing to sign a shorter deal, Bedard would likely pass on a couple of million dollars, but the financial loss might be worth it if it grants him an easier way out in case the Blackhawks’ rebuild explodes in his face. If Bedard were to sign a long-term contract, he would virtually chain himself to United Center and brace for whatever comes next in Chicago.

The former first overall pick remains confident in the organization, but he has been in Windy City for three NHL seasons and has yet to experience any form of team success. By signing a mid-term extension, he leaves the door slightly open to ask out in case his patience runs thin.

Moreover, Bedard may not want to sign such a lucrative contract. He is well aware that the Blackhawks need every dollar they can get to bolster the lineup around him. Bedard can live with a couple fewer million dollars if it means the supporting cast will improve. He is not one to call out his teammates, but it is no secret that Chicago has failed him in that regard since drafting him in 2023.

Bedard hopes for change

The North Vancouver kid wants to see winds of change blow through Windy City, and it may start with him taking a few cents on the dollar. Determined to help the team in every way he can, Bedard may not want a franchise-record-breaking contract, but saving money will come at a cost for the Hawks—namely in the form of term.

Cheaper rarely means better, and the Blackhawks may revisit that lesson soon. For the time being, though, they are content with any way they can keep Bedard in town. If it is only for four or five years, then so be it.

Talks between Bedard and Chicago have been slow, with few updates as of late. However, things may be quietly simmering. With the NHL’s confirmation of the salary cap spike—which had already been reported and expected league-wide—it’s safe to assume extension negotiations are set to pick up pace.

“This is big for extension negotiations,” as stated by @NHLRumourReport on X. “Would not be surprised if we see some in the coming weeks now that the numbers are solidified.”

New salary cap details

As reported by Elliotte Friedman, the NHL has announced that the salary cap floor has been set at $76.9 million. The midpoint has been adjusted to $90.4 million, with the salary cap ceiling spiking to $104 million. In the 2025–26 NHL season, the floor was $70.9 million, with a $95.5 million ceiling. Moreover, the league has announced that the maximum salary will now be $20.8 million.

Kirill Kaprizov signed the biggest contract in league history ($17 million average annual value) in his eight-year, $136 million deal, which will begin next season. Under his current contract, he is set to earn an annual salary of $19.1 million in 2026–27, per PuckPedia.

Bedard’s contract projections

Bedard is expected to put pen to paper on a top-of-the-market contract, but all signs suggest he won’t demand a deal of that magnitude. Still, after playing through his three-year, $2.85 million entry-level contract, it’s time for him to earn a salary aligned with his role in Chicago—especially as he’s set to become the franchise’s next captain.

According to an April report from the Chicago Sun-Times, Bedard could sign for an AAV in the $13.5–15 million range. There might be a bigger dilemma surrounding the term of the contract. Starting Sept. 16, eight-year deals will become a thing of the past in the NHL.

When could Bedard re-sign with Hawks?

Both Bedard and the Blackhawks have expressed a willingness to make ends meet, and there should be no drama as the two sides work something out. Bedard is taking his time, Chicago won’t rush him, and a deal could be finalized at any point in the offseason.

Now that the league has revealed the full details of the 2026–27 salary cap, there are no lingering uncertainties that might make Bedard’s camp anxious. Everything is clear—Bedard knows what to ask for, and the Blackhawks will—perhaps with a few huffs here and there—agree and get it done.