Pierre LeBrun Sheds Light on Where Connor Bedard’s Future with Blackhawks Stands
Connor Bedard’s hot start to the season has reignited talk about his next contract, but discussions with the Chicago Blackhawks remain on hold.
The 20-year-old center has opened the campaign with six goals and eight assists in 11 games, including his first career NHL hat trick in Tuesday’s 7–3 win over the Ottawa Senators. In doing so, Bedard became the seventh player in franchise history to reach 50 goals before turning 21.
While his play hasn't stopped improving and is even generating Olympic buzz, negotiations over an extension of his entry-level three-year, $2.85 million contract have been shelved since the summer.
According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Blackhawks approached Bedard’s camp, led by agent Greg Landry, before the season, but talks didn't advance much.
“They spoke conceptually, which normally means there would have been some numbers thrown around,” LeBrun wrote. “But it doesn’t sound like it got too far. The result was the 2023 No. 1 pick wanting to shelve things for the moment while he focused on getting ready for this season.”
LeBrun described the situation as a “fluid delay,” with both sides comfortable waiting until 2026 if needed.
"My understanding is neither side has pinpointed exactly how far down the road they’ve kicked the ball. It’s a fluid delay,” LeBrun wrote. “There’s no rush from the player’s perspective, and why would there be?
“If Bedard pops this season, that puts him in a better situation to negotiate the huge contract that awaits him.”
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) skates during a stoppage of play.Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
The framework of a future deal remains uncertain and could lead both sides of the negotiations to clash over its structure.
LeBrun speculated that Chicago will push for a maximum eight-year term, while Bedard’s camp could prefer a five-year contract that allows a second big payday sooner.
“For five years, I could see something in the $10 million average-annual-value range,” LeBrun wrote. “For seven or eight years, you’re looking more at the $12 million-plus range. Bedard has all the leverage.”
The Blackhawks, off to a solid 5-4-2 start, visit the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers at 10 p.m. ET Saturday.
This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Unfortunate reality might be setting in for Harrison Brunicke
The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped their Saturday matinee to the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 in which they started slow and could never recover in time. But there was more than just a slow start and a defeat to one of the Western Conference's best teams, that was a tough pill to swallow.
The Penguins will have to make a tough decision soon on if they should send 19-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke back to his junior team or keep him in the NHL. But after Saturday's game, it feels like that decision might have been made already.
In the contest, Brunicke just generally looked lost in his own zone and was the direct cause of the Jets second goal of the game which came early in the first period. Brunicke was doing his best to block a cross-crease pass and did not get his stick down in time. So, Jets forward Brad Lambert had a backdoor tap-in to make it 2-0 Jets early in the first.
Defenseman like Brunicke are going to want to do everything they can to get their sticks down and in position to block the cross-crease pass. Brunicke did not and the result showed. He also did not have inside positioning on Lambert so Lambert was able to box him out and score the goal.
It definitely seems like with the way head coach Dan Muse has been scratching Brunicke and playing him every now and then, that sending him back to his junior team is becoming inevitable. That kind of load management does not bode well for his chances of staying with the Penguins.
It might be ideal for him to get one more year in juniors and then be fully ready next season. That is for Muse and general manager Kyle Dubas to decide, but the answer seems like it might be in the cards for Brunicke.
