If you have followed the hockey world recently, you’ll have heard that this past week, Chicago Blackhawks’ star center Connor Bedard was named the 37th captain in franchise history. You may be asking yourself, who is this 21 year old leading an NHL franchise, and why him? Why not returning star Patrick Kane? All those questions will be answered in just a few quick sentences.
Connor Bedard is a Vancouver-born superstar, drafted first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry draft. Bedard is helping begin a new era of the franchise as the Blackhawks move on from their cup-winning teams. This off season, Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million contract to remain a Blackhawk through the 2030-2031 NHL season. Since coming to the NHL, Bedard has led the Blackhawks in points in all three of his seasons, even through injury. Named an All-Star his rookie season, as well as winning the Calder Trophy as the best rookie, he’s only gotten better. Sadly, after a hot start to this past NHL season, Bedard got injured, missing 13 games and falling out of the Art Ross Trophy race.
With the return of Patrick Kane this off season — signing a two-year, $16 million contract to rejoin the Blackhawks, after they traded him to the New York Rangers at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, in order to tank for Connor Bedard — you might be wondering why he wasn’t named captain. Serving as an alternate captain to Jonathan Toews during his original tenure with the Blackhawks, the former superstar seemed like a shoo-in to wear the “C” this season. However, general manager Kyle Davidson had other ideas, giving Kane a permanent “A” this season alongside Tyler Bertuzzi, to serve as alternate captains to Bedard.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
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