The five-year term on Connor Bedard’s new $75MM contract with Chicago raised some eyebrows as it only bought the Blackhawks one extra year of team control. Typically, in those situations, a team will prefer a shorter-term pact to give them another shot at a long-term agreement down the road. Bedard’s agent Don Meehan indicated to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times that while the team did pursue a longer-term agreement with their top player, they didn’t want to do a short-term agreement. Instead, they wanted some continuity and stability to send a signal both internally and externally, which they feel they get with this contract. Meehan also indicated that Bedard is taking an aggressive form of rehab in the hopes of getting back from his shoulder surgery before the projected four-month timeline that carries into November.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- With Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet matched and Bedard’s contract now done, the RFA center market shifts to Blue Jackets middleman Adam Fantilli. GM Don Waddell is doing his best to deter an offer sheet from coming to his youngster as he told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch that they are prepared to match any offer sheet that comes his way. The 21-year-old had 24 goals and 35 assists in 81 games last season, his most productive year yet. They also have over $23MM in cap room, per PuckPedia, although goalie Jet Greaves and center Cole Sillinger both need new deals as well.
- Kings prospect Will Sharpe has a new team for the upcoming season. The blueliner announced on his Instagram page that he will play for St. Cloud State University next season. Sharpe was a seventh-round pick in 2025 and split last season between WHL Kelowna and Vancouver, notching five goals and 24 assists in 59 games. That actually represented a drop-off in production from the year before when he had 44 points in 66 contests. By going to the NCAA, Sharpe’s signing timeline is extended; had he not made the switch, Los Angeles would have had until June 1st to sign him.
- The opening for Sharpe to make the jump to the NCAA came on the heels of another Kings prospect deciding to make a change, relays Postmedia’s Steve Ewen. Originally expected to attend St. Cloud State this season, Giorgos Pantelas decided to stay in the WHL instead. The 18-year-old indicated that he’d go to school unless he was traded to Penticton, notes Perry Bergson of The Brandon Sun. Pantelas was a fifth-round pick last month, going 153rd overall. The defenseman had 37 points in 68 games last season with WHL Brandon.