The Chicago Blackhawks named Connor Bedard as the 37th captain in team history on Tuesday.
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. When they made that move, they envisioned him as a franchise player who would lead them to the promised land.
On the ice, he has lived up to the hype. He still has a long way to go to become a top-ten player, but he’s already an all-star. In 219 career games, Bedard has 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points.
Despite an injury in 2025-26, he put up 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games played. The next step is consistently hovering around 100 points per season, which would come with better health as the years stack up.
On Tuesday, the Blackhawks announced that Bedard would be the franchise’s next captain. He follows Nick Foligno, who did a wonderful job replacing the legendary Jonathan Toews. Now, it is Bedard’s legacy to carry on and build.
Bedard was given an A on a permanent basis last year when the Blackhawks traded all their leaders away at the deadline. Now, it has already been upgraded to a C.
This is a well-deserved honor for Connor Bedard. He is committed to the team on a long-term contract, puts up big numbers, and already has massive respect within the locker room. He is also one of the 3 most recognizable male athletes in the city of Chicago.
A lot of the Blackhawks’ present and future is dependent on Bedard’s success. They believe in him, and he believes in them. It’s a feel-good story in a lot of ways, but there is work to be done in order for this team to get back into a contention window.
The easy part is over. Bedard has the C on his chest. Now, it’s about going out and making the most of his skill, his desire to win, and the belief system that made all of this possible.
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