- Connor Bedard remains unsigned as a restricted free agent
- GM Kyle Davidson says there is no update on a new contract
- Read below for the Blackhawks’ free agency moves and what is next for Bedard
Connor Bedard is still waiting on a new contract in Chicago.
The restricted free agent became eligible to sign a new deal the moment free agency opened Wednesday. He didn’t. GM Kyle Davidson said there was no update on a long-term extension, and the two sides aren’t there yet.
That lines up with what we heard last month, when the two were reported to be far apart on a new deal.
Here’s a reminder of what Chicago is trying to lock up:
Chicago didn’t sit still on Day 1. The Blackhawks made their splash on the blue line, signing Bowen Byram to a six-year, $75 million deal eight days after trading for him.
They added depth, too. Ian Cole joined on a one-year, $4 million deal on defense, and Cole Smith signed for three years and $9 million up front.
Both signings went official within minutes:
Davidson liked the group he put together.
“I believe we’ve filled some spots we wanted to shore up while leaving runway for some young players to continue their development and growth into roles that they’ve already started to mature into,” Davidson said.
Bedard made his priorities clear back in April, when he was asked where the team needs to go.
“This kind of has to be the last year of, obviously the games aren’t meaningless, but not playing until the end of the year. Playing for something in the (Stanley Cup) Playoff standings,” Bedard said. “I take a lot of responsibility for that. I think all our guys are ready to make that push.”
He led the Blackhawks with 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games last season, even after a shoulder injury cost him time in December. He now has 203 points in 219 career games.
Getting its 21-year-old cornerstone signed still tops the to-do list. Chicago has missed the playoffs eight of the past nine years, and no free agent changes that the way a locked-in Bedard would.
