Connor Bedard has been named the next captain for the Chicago Blackhawks, making him the second-youngest captain in franchise history, after Jonathan Toews. Entering his fourth season with the Blackhawks, Bedard has been building toward this moment for some time.
Late last season, Bedard officially became an alternate captain alongside Tyler Bertuzzi. This followed the Blackhawks’ March 6 trade of former captain Nick Foligno to the Minnesota Wild. The announcement of his captaincy is unsurprising to Blackhawks fans.
His stats show Bedard is a natural leader for this young Blackhawks team. Finishing the 2025-26 season with 75 points, he ranks No. 2 overall among the NHL’s best players and prospects under 24, according to The Athletic.
Following the announcement, Bedard said he is “grateful to the organization and (his) teammates,” and that he won’t take this lightly. Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson also mentioned that “Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk,” and many fans would agree.
Connor Bedard’s Shoulder Injury
Bedard has been dealing with his most recent shoulder injury for almost two months. He sustained it during offseason training in early July. The team announced that Bedard would miss the beginning of the upcoming season due to the injury and surgery.
They expect his recovery to take around four months, with a return likely in November. The Blackhawks will play their first preseason game on Sept. 19, followed closely by the regular season.
The team has not named an alternate captain under Bedard yet. However, Bedard has shown dedication to lead his team whether he is on or off the ice.
The Support System for Connor Bedard
Davidson has built a young team over the years to support Bedard, recently picking up players like Anton Frondell and Nick Lardis.
This strategy will continue not only with his recent promotion, but as Bedard signed a five-year contract with the team. “Chicago’s kind of really the only place I want to play,” Bedard said. He also said he believes in the growth of their young players.
With an average age of 26.08, the Blackhawks have one of the youngest teams in the NHL. So while Bedard may be only 21, he will lead a team that has grown around him and understands his style.
Looking Towards the Future for Chicago
Bedard is a history-making player for the Blackhawks. He is the first Blackhawks player to hit 200 points at age 20 or younger.
On top of that, Patrick Kane‘s return to Chicago gives the city not only fond memories of the 2010s Blackhawks team, but also new hope and excitement for a bright future. In fact, the team saw 160 percent growth in season-ticket interest, along with one of its largest days in jersey sales following Kane’s return.
Chicago fans should feel excited for what’s to come in the following months. With Bedard as captain and players like Kane and Bertuzzi by his side, there is something to be proud of in the rebuild Davidson has worked toward.
“Being named captain of the Blackhawks is an unbelievable honor and something I’m truly humbled by,” Bedard said.
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