Bedard named Blackhawks captain, joins list of legends to hold role

CHICAGO -- Call him Captain Bedard.

Connor Bedard joined the illustrious list of Chicago Blackhawks captains on Tuesday when the 21-year-old was given the honor.

He is the second youngest captain in team history behind Jonathan Toews (20 years, 79 days).

"Being named captain of the Blackhawks is an unbelievable honor and something I'm truly humbled by," Bedard said. "The captains who have come before me have left an incredible legacy. To now have the opportunity to carry that tradition forward is something I don't take lightly. I'm grateful to the organization and my teammates for putting their trust in me to lead this team. We're building something really special here, and I'm committed to making the entire Blackhawks organization and our fans proud."

Toews was a three-time Stanley Cup winner (2010, 2013, 2015) who was captain from 2008-23. Chicago native Chris Chelios was Blackhawks captain from 1995-99 and Denis Savard was captain for the 1988-89 season. Each have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (Savard in 2000, Chelios in 2013).

Stan Mikita was Blackhawks captain from 1975-77, won the Stanley Cup with them in 1961 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983. Pierre Pilote, also part of the 1961 Cup team, was Chicago’s captain from 1961-67 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

The numbers of Chelios, Savard, Mikita and Pilote have been retired by the Blackhawks.

Bedard replaces Nick Foligno, who was captain from Sept. 18, 2024, to March 6, 2026, when he was traded to the Minnesota Wild.

“Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. "From the moment he entered the League, Connor has led by example and has set a remarkable standard for himself while demonstrating his ability to make the players around him better. He has earned the respect of his teammates and the entire organization through the way he prepares, competes and conducts himself every single day, and there is no doubt that he is ready to take on this tremendous responsibility.

“We're proud to have him lead this storied franchise and excited for him to shape the next chapter of Blackhawks hockey."

He was named alternate captain for the remainder of last season on March 3 after defenseman Connor Murphy, who had held that title until March 2, was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. Bedard was also an alternate captain earlier last season when Foligno was hurt.

“I think obviously how (Foligno) carries himself but, you know, he’s someone who’s more happy for everyone else than he is for himself and I think that’s infectious” Bedard said after Foligno was traded. “Our whole room is like that and he’s a big part of that and that’s kind of how you build a team.

“Just like a family, everyone wants each other to do so well and we’re all fighting for each other every day. He’s someone who exemplified that but at the end of the day, just a good person and fun guy to be around, fun guy to go to dinner with, go to his house, play mini sticks with his kids, stuff like that.”

On Nov. 18, the first time Bedard he was an alternate in a regular-season game, he got the second hat trick of his career in a 5-2 win against the Calgary Flames.

Bedard, who signed a five-year, $75 million contract ($15 million average annual value) with the Blackhawks on July 18, is expected to be out until November. He had surgery on his left shoulder after sustaining an injury during an offseason training session in Vancouver on July 2. He has been skating and taking some shots during informal sessions at the Blackhawks’ practice facility.

The No. 1 pick by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard led the Blackhawks last season with 60 points (26 goals, 34 assists) in 51 games. He won the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the League’s best rookie, in 2023-24.

The Blackhawks, who have not made the postseason since the 2019-20 season, open training camp on Thursday.

Eight NHL teams are without a captain: the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks and Canucks.