Bedard, Blackhawks contract talks have resumed — The Fourth Period
The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping to get a bit of housekeeping out of the way in the early-goings of their off-season before they ramp up their search for roster additions this summer.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson has resumed contract discussions and negotiations with star forward Connor Bedard, who is set to become a restricted free agent July 1.
Bedard, 20, will see his three-year, entry-level contract expire at the end of June and talks have started to pick back up on what a new deal will look like.
During Thursday’s episode of the DFO Rundown Insider Edition with Irfaan Gaffar and David Pagnotta, the duo discussed what Bedard’s next deal is going to look like and what type of term he might get after Gaffar confirmed talks are back underway.
“The negotiations are ongoing. They’re going back and forth,” Pagnotta said. “Different variations, different options are being discussed back and forth. Going full-term, going to take him to the end of his RFA status right before that final year before he can get to UFA, so he’s still controllable. And the dollars will dictate what those terms are going to be or I guess vice versa. You know, you’re hearing $14 million a year and $15M, $16M, depends on what the term is.”
After picked up 61 points in his rookie season and 67 points last year, Bedard tallied 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games this season. His production picked up mightily this season and his trajectory is on a solid incline.
And what Bedard earns on his next deal will have an impact on the rest of the market going forward.
“With the way the market is shifting, Bedard’s contract is going to affect others, as well,” Pagnotta noted. “It’s going to affect Macklin Celebrini, at some point. It’s going to affect Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier right now, as they’re looking for new deals in Anaheim. All of these are going to kind of be connected a little bit, but with Bedard specifically, it’s either full term or you’re going shorter term so you keep that RFA status and that term will dictate what those dollars really are going to be.”
Talks will continue and start to eventually intensify between the Blackhawks and Bedard’s camp, and while that remains a priority for Davidson, he will soon begin to place focus on the upcoming NHL Draft and what other moves he may look to do in order to strengthen his current roster.
The Blackhawks are willing to explore the possibility of trading the fourth-overall pick in the draft for an NHL-proven star and Davidson plans to evaluate his options over the next several weeks.
