CHICAGO (AP) — Connor Bedard has been the central figure for Chicago since he was selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
A single capital “C” had been heading toward the front of his No. 98 jersey for a while.
Bedard was named the 37th captain of the Blackhawks on Tuesday, capping an eventful off-season that included a new contract and another shoulder injury. At 21 years, 60 days, he is the second-youngest captain in the history of the Original Six franchise behind Jonathan Toews.
“It's an incredible honour, something I don't take lightly,” Bedard said.
Chicago had gone without a captain since trading Nick Foligno to Minnesota in March. Foligno served as a mentor for Bedard and a wave of prospects that the Blackhawks hope will lead the team back into playoff contention.
Bedard said Foligno called him Monday night and helped him pick out his clothes for Tuesday's press conference.
“My leadership style won't be the exact same as his, but just getting to kind of see how he handled a lot of the responsibilities and stuff,” Bedard said, “and not just him, we had so many guys in our room that I can look at. But he for sure had a big impact on myself and a lot of our young players.”
The long-expected move came after Bedard agreed to a $75-million, five-year contract in July. Bedard is also recovering from left shoulder surgery July 8.
Bedard, who missed 12 games after he hurt his right shoulder Dec. 12, is expected to miss the start of the season. Bedard from North Vancouver, B.C., was hurt while skating with a group of NHL players in western Canada.
“I'm on the ice doing kind of most of everything and just working in a bit more each day,” Bedard said. “Timeline-wise, I don't really know. It's kind of see as it progresses. But feeling good and just kind of doing everything I can to, like I said, get back as soon as possible.”
Bedard was 18 when he made his highly anticipated NHL debut in 2023. He was heralded as the new face of the Blackhawks, and he won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year. He continued his steady improvement in his third season, setting career highs of 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games.
General manager Kyle Davidson called Bedard “a natural-born leader.”
“He loves the game, he loves this city, he wants to be a leader of a group that brings winning back to Chicago,” Davidson said, “and we know he'll continue to strive to raise the bar for his teammates in how they work every day and how the show up in the city and in the community.”
Chicago went 29-39-14 last year, an 11-point improvement from the previous season and still nowhere near playoff contention. The franchise has finished 31st in the NHL each of the past three years.
The Blackhawks seek their first post-season appearance since the NHL used an expanded playoff format in the pandemic-affected 2019-20 season.
“The mindset is to win and to get back into the playoffs,” Bedard said. “This city and fan base is used to winning, and we want to bring that back.”
Chicago acquired defenceman Bo Byram in a June trade with Buffalo, and Patrick Kane returned to his first NHL home when he signed a $16-million, two-year contract in free agency. Kane and veteran forward Tyler Bertuzzi will serve as the alternate captains.
Kane, who turns 38 in November, said naming Bedard captain was a great decision.
“It’s been a really, really fun group to be around, and very high vibes, good vibes around everyone, and he’s the leader of that, right?” Kane said. “He leads the charge.”
Chicago was the second team with a vacancy to name a captain in as many days after the New York Islanders gave the role to veteran centre Bo Horvat. The Islanders opted for Horvat over 19-year-old face of the franchise and 2025 No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer, who coach Peter DeBoer did say was considered among several possibilities.
“It shows you how special a kid he is that he was a consideration,” DeBoer said Monday.
San Jose was one of several teams without a captain and has yet to make a decision whether to put 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini into that role.
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.
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See AP’s full NHL coverage here
Jay Cohen, The Associated Press
