Blackhawks Name 21-Year-Old Bedard Franchise Captain

The Chicago Blackhawks have named Connor Bedard the 37th captain in franchise history, making the 21-year-old the face and leader of the organization. Bedard is the second-youngest captain in team history, behind Jonathan Toews, and succeeds Nick Foligno, who was traded to Minnesota in March. The 2023 first-overall pick earned the promotion after serving as an alternate captain and posting career highs of 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games during the 2025-26 season, giving him 203 points in 219 career games. The appointment follows Bedard’s five-year, $75 million contract extension, but he is expected to miss the start of the season while recovering from left shoulder surgery. The Blackhawks are relying on his leadership and continued development to help turn their rebuilding team into a contender.