As of July 1st, Blackhawks center Connor Bedard became eligible to sign a contract extension like every other player entering the final year of their respective contracts. One of the questions heading into the start of the summer was if he’d be among the players to quickly sign an early extension. With September a little more than a week away, it’s safe to say the answer to that question was no.
It’s quite possible that the answer will continue to be no as well. In his latest appearance for Bleacher Report (video link), Frank Seravalli noted that both Bedard and the Blackhawks feel any urgency to get something done now and they appear to be quite content with letting next season play out and then working on a contract at that point.
The 20-year-old was the first overall pick two years ago, a consensus choice after he simply lit up the WHL where he had 134 goals and 137 assists in 134 games over parts of three major junior seasons with Regina. The hope was that he could come in and be the next great NHL superstar.
Bedard’s progression doesn’t have him at that level just yet. After putting up an impressive 22 goals and 39 assists in 67 games in his rookie season, his point-per-game rate actually dropped last year when he had 23 goals and 44 helpers in 82 appearances. Both point totals were enough to lead the Blackhawks in scoring but at the same time, it would be fair to suggest that he underachieved relative to expectations last season.
Having yet to reach the 70-point mark and given the comparable contracts for top young centers in recent years, a rough projection for a long-term deal for Bedard would be around the $8.5MM range based on his performance so far. It wouldn’t be shocking if GM Kyle Davidson was amenable to something around that price point but for Bedard, it probably wouldn’t make as much sense. On the flip side, a long-term price tag that Bedard’s camp might want could be too rich for the team to sign at this point.
With that in mind, it makes a lot of sense for both sides to wait this out. Given the expectations the team has for Bedard, even a down year this season isn’t going to take him out of their long-term plans so there isn’t much risk in waiting. And if things don’t go as planned which would make a long-term agreement a little murkier, the simple solution at that point would be a bridge deal, allowing both sides more time to evaluate the situation.
Since Davidson took over as GM, he has handed out long-term contracts to a pair of young core players. Defenseman Alex Vlasic inked a six-year deal last year while forward Frank Nazar inked a seven-year agreement earlier this week so there is definitely a willingness from the team to lock up their key players quickly. It’s expected that Bedard will eventually follow suit but now, that might not be coming until next offseason, not this one.
doesn’t need too, if he gets a point per game season The Hawks could pay him $11MM per season, the Haeks have all the space in the world i dont mind it
He has to hit the 90 pt range this year if not he might not what he is cracked up to be.
i feel like its possible as his surroundings are improving too, maybe not with the veterans but the young core is getting better
You have seen him shoot the puck right? Way too early to start having these conversations.
I have seen him release the puck but if he continues to give up the puck to the opponent then his time on ice will be low.
Bedard went away after the season by himself to work on his game alone and skipped all the off season tournaments. He’s obviously betting on himself and as long as he doesn’t get injured seriously he should come out a winner. He’s obviously one one of the top 5 extensions the Hawks would like to get done with Nazar and Vlasic locked up the others would be Bedard, Arty, Rinzel and Knight, ( Korchinski?). That’ a nice start. Betting on himself should keep him more than motivated.
The idea that Bedard has underachieved seems to be the only way that people who had unreasonably high expectations of him can offset their misguided projections. What he’s done at age 18 and 19 ranks pretty high in NHL history all while skating on the worst team in the league. He was expected to put the team on his back at age 19 with near zero help. The team and Bedard are both comfortable with waiting to when they both feel the time is right and that’s as it should be. I’m afraid though that until he does sign, it will be a relentless headline just as it was for Marner last year and other players in the past.
I would never want to sign longterm with a loser organization like that. Will be in a rebuild for the next decade easy.
Would you prefer San Jose? Anaheim?
Dufus-You mean the loser organization that won 3 Cups in the last decade? Who’s your team? Calgary?
Quality rebuilds do take time. You could argue the Hawks 2010 Cup team and beginning of their dynasty rebuild started with the drafting of Duncan Keith in 2002.
Another idiot who evaluates the org rebuild on the team’s standings last year.
The team isn’t very good and that doen’t help this kid at all
History lesson 101- The best players have been drafted by the teams with the worst for hmmmmmmmmmmm…..Let me see now…….. It’s coming to me…..FOREVER! And they’ve been surviving. Look it up.