There is no reason to think that contract talks regarding Connor Bedard's next deal with the Chicago Blackhawks are going poorly, but there also doesn't seem to be a rush to get anything down before next season. According to Frank Seravalli, he doubts that a Bedard extension will get done before the season from both ends (player and team). The Blackhawks' cap space is zero issue as there will be plenty to lock their star player down for eight years at a high AAV. The insider says that they will want to get that deal done right. Given Bedard just turned 20 years old, had an impressive first two seasons on a very bad team, and the cap is going up more than in recent years, it's tough to find comparables. I don't think the Blackhawks are going to be stingy with their money though. There will be a number of RFAs to sign, but there should still be plenty of space to get everything done. I think it's more about the time to hash out the perfect deal that will make both sides happy rather than seeing what Bedard is going to do in his third season. Though he experienced a goal-scoring slump, he should have a bit more consistency in his linemates and teammates and the group will be a little better this season. There is no reason to think that Bedard won't jump in goals and points in year three and eventually deserve the big payday he is going to get. From the Blackhawks' standpoint, the best case scenario is to sign their young star to an eight-year deal so they have him as long as possible and through his prime. For Bedard, waiting might allow him to have a big contract year and he could feel like he can get more money from improving. Regardless, he isn't going to get a cheap contract and if he wants eight years, he'll get it. The Blackhawks will likely have a lot of work to do next summer as this offseason might be quieter for the remainder of it. Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.
