Will Connor Bedard sign a bigger and better extension than Brock Faber's $68M contract?

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 30, 2024 03:38 GMT

Chicago Blackhawks budding star Connor Bedard’s contract extension should eclipse Brock Faber’s $68 million deal.

The rationale behind the Minnesota Wild’s decision to extend Faber lies in their perception of the player's long-term value. The club would much rather pay $8.5 million AAV now than risk Faber becoming a bonafide superstar and pay more to keep him.

That rationale also takes into consideration that Faber was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy last season. Moreover, the Wild ignored the fact that Faber has only played 84 NHL games, which is enough to gauge that Faber would be a true superstar blueliner.

Now, let’s consider Connor Bedard, who won the Calder Trophy by a healthy margin over Faber. Bedard is a former No. 1 overall pick and is poised to become the Chicago Blackhawks’ franchise player.

Considering those elements, Bedard should get a hefty payday when the Blackhawks extend him. It’s almost as if Blackhawks management has been saving up cap space to sign Bedard.

Eventually, an $8.5 million AAV for Bedard will be the starting point. Unless he struggles significantly next season, he should top Faber’s deal. Moreover, if Bedard can improve his performances from last season, Chicago will need to pay up.

Perhaps the worst thing that could happen is that Bedard explodes this upcoming season, notching up 30 or 40 goals and 100 points, eventually pricing himself at the same level as stars like Artemi Panarin or David Pastrnak.

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Predicting Connor Bedard’s next contract

It’s anybody’s guess how much Connor Bedard could land in his next deal. He's scheduled to become an RFA in 2026. That gives the Blackhawks roughly two seasons to figure out how much Bedard is worth. Nevertheless, Chicago would rather get a deal done sooner rather than later.

An $8.5 AAV would be on the low end especially if Bedard becomes a consistent point-per-game player. With his superstar potential, he could command a deal similar to what the Toronto Maple Leafs gave Auston Matthews before he became an RFA.

The Leafs signed Matthews on an $11.6 AAV at age 21. That contract was signed before Matthews had won two Rocket Richard Trophies and a Hart Trophy. So, could a deal somewhere in the $10-12 million AAV be possible for Bedard?

If Bedard can follow up his Calder Trophy season with an equally good or better sophomore year, he should be on track to get that sort of money.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Blackhawks are looking to secure their future face. As a result, it makes sense to show Bedard the money now, even if it seems like an overpay.

It’s worth pointing out that many fans and analysts criticized the Colorado Avalanche for signing Nathan MacKinnon to a $6.3 AAV when he was about to become an RFA. The deal, though, is viewed as a bargain now.

So, the same could be said for Connor Bedard. Even a $10 million AAV may look like a steal in three or four years’ time. It will be a matter of time before the Blackhawks find out if they made the right call.