Connor Bedard’s next contract is not just another restricted free-agent negotiation.

It is the contract that officially turns the page in Chicago.

For three years, the Blackhawks have sold patience. They have sold the rebuild. They have sold the idea that pain at the bottom of the standings would eventually be worth it because the franchise finally had its next centrepiece.

Now comes the bill.

Bedard is eligible for a new deal, the Blackhawks need to get it done, and every day without a signature gives the hockey world room to wonder. Is this progressing well? Does he actually want to stay? Is there any reason for Chicago fans to worry?

Based on what has been said publicly, the answer is pretty clear: Bedard has given no indication that he wants out. The Blackhawks have given no indication they want anything other than to build around him. But that does not mean the contract is simple.

The issue does not appear to be commitment.

The issue appears to be structure.

Bedard Has Said The Right Things

Let’s start with Bedard himself, because in situations like this, the player’s own words matter more than the noise around him.

At the end of the 2024-25 season, after another losing year in Chicago, Bedard did not sound like a young star trying to escape. He sounded like a frustrated competitor who still believed in the place he was drafted.

“I know I want to be here for a long time,” Bedard told reporters.

That sentence alone should calm down most of the panic.

He also pushed back on the idea that his body language or frustration on the bench meant something bigger.

“If I look a little sad on the bench or something, maybe people can take it out of context,” Bedard said. “But I’ve said it so many times, I love being here.”

That is not a trade-me quote. That is not a quiet exit strategy. That is a young franchise player acknowledging that losing bothers him, while still making it clear he does not want the losing to define his future in Chicago.

And honestly, that is exactly what Blackhawks fans should want to hear.

You do not want Bedard comfortable with finishing near the bottom. You do not want him smiling through meaningless games in March. You want him annoyed. You want him impatient. You want him looking around and saying this has to get better.

That does not mean he wants to leave. It means he wants the Blackhawks to start acting like a team ready to grow up.

The Talks Sound Calm, Not Dramatic

When Bedard was asked about the contract situation before the season, he did not make it sound like a crisis.

“It’s nothing crazy,” Bedard said at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour. “We’re both comfortable with where we’re at. They know I want to be there; I know they want me. So, it’s really not on my mind that much, and I just think when it happens, it’ll happen.”

That quote says a lot.

“They know I want to be there.”

“I know they want me.”

That is the foundation of a deal. Both sides understand the obvious. The Blackhawks need Bedard. Bedard knows Chicago is his platform, his team, and potentially his legacy.

When asked if it could happen soon, Bedard kept it simple.

“We’ll see.”

That is not exactly a dramatic answer, but it is also standard contract language. Players do not usually negotiate through microphones. Especially not players who have agents handling the details.

Chicago’s Message: We’re Getting This Done

The Blackhawks have also been very clear publicly.

General manager Kyle Davidson has not treated the Bedard extension like a maybe. After the season, Davidson said: “We’ll get that done, and we’ll get to work soon on that. Like I said, he’s so important to our team. He took such a big step forward this year in every facet. So yeah, that’s certainly an important one to cross off the list.”

That is a GM speaking like a deal is inevitable.

Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz was just as direct when he said the organization’s intention is to get Bedard signed and have him remain a Blackhawk for a long time.

Again, none of that sounds like panic. None of that sounds like a team worried its star is looking for the door.

The Blackhawks know what this is. Bedard is not just their best player. He is the face of the rebuild, the face of the marketing push, and the player who gives the entire fan base a reason to believe the next great Chicago era is possible.

There is no version of this plan where Bedard is optional.

So Why Isn’t It Done Yet?

This is where the situation gets more interesting.

The latest reporting out of Chicago suggests there may not have been major progress yet. That does not mean things are bad. It means the details are complicated.

And with Bedard, the details are massive.

The cap hit is expected to be enormous. Recent reporting has placed the possible number somewhere in the $13 million to $16 million range. That is superstar money, but it is also the cost of doing business when a franchise player comes out of his entry-level deal in a rising-cap NHL.

The bigger question may be term.

Do the Blackhawks push for eight years and lock up Bedard through the heart of his prime? Of course they do.

Does Bedard’s camp have reason to consider something shorter, maybe four or five years, knowing the salary cap is rising and another massive payday could come later? Absolutely.

That is where this negotiation could become a real chess match.

An eight-year deal gives Chicago certainty. It lets Davidson plan around a fixed number. It tells the fan base that Bedard is not just part of the rebuild, he is the rebuild.

A shorter deal gives Bedard flexibility. It gives him another chance to cash in when the cap is even higher. It also gives him a better view of where the Blackhawks really are as a team.

That does not mean he is threatening to leave. It means his side would be doing its job.

The Agent Side Of It

As of now, there does not appear to be a strong public quote from Bedard’s agent specifically laying out the extension talks.

But we do not need an agent quote to understand the likely strategy.

Bedard’s camp is not negotiating a regular contract. They are negotiating one of the most important second contracts in the NHL. They have to consider the salary cap, comparable stars, the CBA, the Blackhawks’ timeline, and Bedard’s earning power in his prime.

If Chicago wants eight years, it will have to pay for eight years.

If Bedard is open to shorter term, that could be because he believes in himself, believes the cap will keep climbing, and wants another negotiation while he is still young enough to command the entire market.

That is not disloyal. That is smart business.

The Most Important Quote Might Be About Winning

There is one Bedard quote that should matter just as much as the contract quotes.

“The end of the day, we’ve got to start winning,” he said after the season. “It’s been a while, and I think it takes a toll on you, and you want to make that step.”

That is the pressure point.

The Blackhawks can probably get Bedard signed. The real question is whether they can build fast enough around him.

Bedard has praised Davidson. He has talked about the talent Chicago has collected. He has said he is excited about growing with the same group. But eventually, prospects have to become impact players. Cap space has to become help. Draft picks have to become wins.

A contract extension would be a huge moment for Chicago.

But it cannot be the finish line.

It has to be the beginning of the Blackhawks proving to Bedard that his patience will be rewarded.

Bottom Line

Right now, there is no public evidence that Connor Bedard wants out of Chicago.

Quite the opposite.

He has said he wants to be there for a long time. He has said he loves being there. The Blackhawks have said they want him long-term. Davidson has said they will get it done.

The only reason this story still has drama is because the numbers could be massive and the term could shape the next decade of the franchise.

So is it progressing well?

Publicly, it sounds calm. Privately, it may be slower than some fans hoped.

Does Bedard want to stay?

By every meaningful quote available, yes.

But the real challenge for Chicago is not just getting Bedard to sign.

It is making sure that once he does, the Blackhawks stop asking him to sell hope and finally give him a team worth believing in.