Connor Bedard's Contract Asking Price Projected
With the shocking $18 million AAV offer sheet Leo Carlsson signed on Friday, one's mind starts drifting to what the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard will be able to sign for. The former is eligible for an extension now, with one year remaining on his entry-level contract, while the latter is now officially a restricted free agent.
Do the Chicago Blackhawks wait to see if Bedard will be hit with an offer sheet, too? Or do they quickly get something done first? Whichever way they go, it's going to be costly.
On the DFO Rundown, Irfaan Gaffar told David Pagnotta that Bedard "is looking for Kirill Kaprizov money." That would be a $17 million AAV. But please keep in mind—that was BEFORE Carlsson's $18M bombshell dropped.
Connor Bedard reportedly has his sights set on $17M AAV. 💰
— NHLMuse (@NHL_Muse) July 4, 2026
Irfaan Gaffar says Bedard is looking for Kirill Kaprizov money, but the Blackhawks don’t appear to be close to that number in negotiations. 👀 pic.twitter.com/8gdyPfpUPM
"I think that that is the situation, and that is the number that he's looking at and I do strongly believe that he thinks he deserves it," Gaffar said. "I'm not entirely sure the Chicago Blackhawks as an organization are close to that number when discussing Connor Bedard right now."
Pagnotta agreed, saying, "I think Chicago is probably more comfortable in the, you know, $12.5M to $13M, $14M range."Now, After Carlsson, where does Bedard go? Pagnotta suggested that wherever Carlsson landed, he could see that being a "minimum" for Bedard.
It's unlikely that the shoulder injury Bedard suffered during practice this week will have any impact at all on talks. The severity of the injury has not been released as of yet. This injury appears to be to his left shoulder, whereas the injury that kept him out for 12 games this past season was to his right shoulder.
Where do things go for Bedard after Carlsson's $18M AAV offer sheet?
Things are getting crazy, and the summer is just getting started.
For context, this past season, Bedard averaged 1.09 points per game while Carlsson was at 0.95 points per game. The former registered 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games. Carlsson finished with 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games.
For their careers, Bedard, the #1 pick in 2023, has 75 goals and 203 points in 219 games. Carlsson, drafted right after him at #2, has 61 goals and 141 points in 201 games.
And don't even get us started on Celebrini, and what he could be in store for on a new deal (45 goals, 115 points in 82 games this past season).
