Connor Bedard Named 37th Captain in Blackhawks History Ahead of 2026-27 NHL Season

Connor Bedard will head into his fourth NHL season wearing the 'C' for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks named Bedard the 37th captain in franchise history ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

The news comes after the Blackhawks signed Bedard to a five-year, $15 million AAV deal that will keep him under contract through the 2030-31 campaign.

The forward is expected to start the campaign on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason.

Bedard is the third player to lead the Blackhawks since 2008, when Jonathan Toews took over the captaincy.

Toews helped lead the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups between 2010 and 2015 before leaving the team following the 2022-23 season.

The role was most recently filled by Nick Foligno, who has served as captain for the last two seasons.

Bedard wore a letter for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign as an alternate to Foligno, who was traded to the Minnesota Wild in March.

The captaincy marks the next step in the Blackhawks rebuilding their team around Bedard, a move that has been in progress since the franchise selected him at the top of the 2023 draft.

Bedard started off his NHL career by winning the Calder Trophy despite breaking his jaw midway through his rookie 2023-24 campaign.

He took a step forward in his third season by recording career highs in goals (30), assists (45) and points (75) despite missing 12 games with a right shoulder injury.

Bedard is set to miss more time to start out the 2026-27 campaign after suffering another shoulder injury while practicing in July. The Blackhawks have indicated he is expected to return in November.

The Hawks haven't gotten any closer to the playoffs in Bedard's first three seasons, each of which the team has finished at the bottom of the Central Division.

After acquiring and extending defenseman Bowen Byram and reuniting with veteran winger Patrick Kane this offseason, the Blackhawks will be hoping Bedard can start off his captaincy by helping his team contend for its first postseason run since 2020.