From the day he was drafted, this felt like the destiny for Connor Bedard.
And now it’s reality.
On Tuesday morning, the team announced that the 2023 No. 1 overall pick will be the 37th captain in franchise history.
a new letter on the chest, a new chapter ahead ❤️
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 15, 2026
introducing the 37th 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 of the Chicago Blackhawks, 𝐂onnor Bedard! pic.twitter.com/Lg4U1McJDa
Thoughts from Bedard were shared in an article posted at The Players’ Tribune soon after the announcement was made. An excerpt of that full article is below:
I feel like the main reason we’re about to turn a corner, though, it isn’t a list of transactions or whatever. It’s the energy coming from our locker room. It’s the work our young guys have been putting in, and the growth we’re showing on and off the ice, to prove that we already have a lot of the puzzle pieces. And that the foundation of the next great Blackhawks team is right here in our building. Man…….. we’ve got such a tight group. There’s so much trust, and there’s no one I’d rather go into battle with. But I also know we’re hungry for those battles to finally become playoff battles. And I hope that me wearing the C now, it’s just another piece of that puzzle.
The team statement included the words below from GM Kyle Davidson:
Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk. 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.
The Blackhawks had been without an official captain since Nick Foligno was sent to Minnesota, although Bedard had been wearing an “A” as an alternate captain since early on in the 2025-26 season, foreshadowing the move that was made this morning. He’s been the team’s statistical leaders since arriving, tallying 61 points (22 G, 39 A) in 68 games as a rookie, 67 points (23 G, 44 A) in 82 games during his second season and 75 points (30 G, 45 A) in 69 games last season. As Ben Pope of the Sun-Times noted, though, Bedard was becoming a leader in ways beyond that recently:
Connor Bedard is the Blackhawks’ new captain.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 15, 2026
He becomes the youngest captain in the league, but he showed he was ready for it last season. The Hawks were clearly already his team.
Let’s end this article with the final words from Bedard in that aforementioned piece at The Players’ Tribune, because the sentiment he shares is one we couldn’t agree with more:
Let’s go win some damn hockey games.