Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard extension delay is a huge gamble

The Chicago Blackhawks last week signed one of their key players, Frank Nazar, to a long-term extension. The seven-year deal could be viewed as a gamble for a player who only has 56 career NHL games, but it usually works out when teams agree to extensions earlier than later in signing young players.

The approach they took with Nazar makes the recent report about Connor Bedard more confusing and is something they probably will end up regretting. According to Frank Seravalli, the Blackhawks and Bedard appear content to wait on a contract extension. The two sides could have worked out a new contract starting on July 1st but look prepared to wait to see how this third year plays out.

From the perspective of Bedard, it makes sense as he is coming off another productive season with 67 points in 82 games. It was a good season but his ceiling is so much greater and if he takes that jump next season, his contract demands go way up.

That is why it is a head-scratching move for the approach the Blackhawks are taking with these negotiations, especially with what they did with Nazar. The Blackhawks center only had 26 points in 53 games last season but was able to lock up a seven-year deal.

Chicago Blackhawks have no logical reason to wait on a Connor Bedard extension

Bedard has already performed better than Nazar and it is hard to understand why the Blackhawks would be hesistant in signing him to a max-term deal. The biggest hurdle is likely the compensation but even if the Blackhawks pay up some based on his production to date, it is almost impossible to not look like a bargain in three or four seasons based on the salary cap.

The salary cap has made significant jumps in recent years and should increase similarly the next few seasons. As that happens, the percentage of the cap dedicated to Bedard will only go down. If he remains to be close to a point per game player, an AAV close to $10 million is still worth it.

However, that is worst case scenario because Bedard's ceiling is so high that he has the potential to be a Top 5 player in the NHL. He may not reach that this season but if he makes a big jump towards that in his final season under contract, the Blackhawks are going to be looking at a contract north of $12 or even $13 million.

The idea that the Blackhawks would be aggressive in signing Frank Nazar to an extension but slow-play an extension for Connor Bedard doesn't make sense. It is going to be a move that they are going to regret in the long run.