The Chicago Blackhawks have a superstar in Connor Bedard. He didn’t come into the league and have 50 goals and 100 points right away, but back-to-back 60-point seasons are nothing to ignore.
Now that Bedard is entering his 20s, he is ready to break out into true superstardom in the NHL. He also only has one year remaining on his entry-level contract. As of July 1st, he is now eligible to sign his extension.
How much does a player who had two really good teenage seasons get before he even truly turns the corner? It is very hard to project the proper value. If they “overpay” him now, they may see it as a team-friendly deal in the future. However, there is always the risk that he doesn’t live up to that type of risk.
One team that Chicago could take a look at when it comes to making this type of decision is the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey had two first overall picks, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, who were in a similar situation to Connor Bedard a few years ago.
Neither Hischier nor Hughes was bad by any means early on, but they were nowhere near as productive offensively as Bedard over their first two seasons. Now, they are two of the ten best centers in the NHL.
The Devils gave Hischier $7.25 million when his time came, and Hughes got $8.0 million. At first, it looked a little steep. Now, they would each make over $10 million if they hit the open market.
Since these contracts were signed, the salary cap has gone up, and it projects to significantly rise over the next few seasons. The Blackhawks might have to go above Hughes’ $8.0 million, but they can give Bedard a similar percentage of the salary cap.
Giving Bedard $9-10 million per year over 8 years is the perfect number if you go the route that the New Jersey Devils took.
Overpaying your young, promising stars has its benefits. Not only do you likely get the first half of their prime on what turns into team-friendly deals, but you also show faith in them by committing term and money. That could create goodwill for your organization with them and other players down the line.
The Blackhawks have until July 1st, 2026, before he becomes a restricted free agent. They might not want to wait that long, though, just in case 2025-26 is the season he goes out and has 100+ points. Then, there will be no early overpayment for an eventual team-friendly deal like New Jersey has with their young stars.
