On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Connor Bedard was named the 37th captain in Chicago Blackhawks history. Bedard was selected first overall by the Blackhawks in 2023, and from the moment he was drafted, it seemed inevitable he would become the face of the franchise.
While Patrick Kane — who signed a two-year contract to return to Chicago — has the most leadership experience on the roster, management has been building the team around Bedard since he made his NHL debut. If Chicago wants to win a Stanley Cup, it will be with Bedard as their captain.
Blackhawks New Leadership Group
Last season, Nick Foligno served as captain while Tyler Bertuzzi, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy were alternates. However, Foligno was traded to the Minnesota Wild, and Dickinson and Murphy were traded to the Edmonton Oilers, all ahead of the 2026 Trade Deadline.
“It’s [the young guys’] locker room now,” general manager Kyle Davidson said at the time. “It’s time for them to take over and say what needs to be said, when it needs to happen.” (from “Blackhawks run by kids now after trading entire leadership group: ‘It’s their locker room now’,” Chicago Sun Times, March 6, 2026).
After shipping out most of the team’s leaders, Bedard wore an “A” along with Bertuzzi, likely in preparation for this moment. He brings leadership, electricity, and offensive talent to the team, and will be key in helping the team make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
With the addition of Kane, it’s likely the new leadership group will consist of Bedard, with Bertuzzi and Kane being announced as alternate captains this season per head coach Jeff Blashill at Bedard’s press conference. Kane, who turns 38 in November, is an obvious pick to wear an “A”. He was alternate captain for the Blackhawks during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons before his departure in 2023, while Nazar signed a seven-year contract extension in 2025.
“I just try to keep it simple and make sure guys are feeling good,” Nazar said. “There’s some guys that you’ve got to know when to leave them alone. I just try to be myself and make them laugh, if that works. If not, maybe [I’ll] compliment them or something.”
Blashill has shown a lot of confidence in both Bedard and Nazar as part of the new leadership group. “There’s a lot of pressure in this league…Don’t you want to go enjoy it and be in that atmosphere where it’s fun to be around? [Frank’s] one of those guys that, when you walk in the room, it’s fun to be around.”
What the C Means to Bedard
As he enters his fourth NHL season, the pressure will change. At 21, he’s the franchise’s second-youngest captain in history after Jonathan Toews (20 years, 79 days) and the youngest in the league heading into the season.
After being named captain, Bedard wrote in The Players’ Tribune: “One of the most important things Nick did was show me how to find the right balance. How to balance taking my responsibility to the team and to the city seriously, while also not forgetting how fun it is (and how lucky I am) to get to play this game I love every day. When Kyle and Jeff brought me in to tell me the news, I could barely get a full sentence out. I was just so excited, and so honored. I know the tradition of this franchise, and the lineage I’m a part of now. To follow in Nick’s footsteps, and legends like Toews and (Chris) Chelios, it’s incredibly special.”
There was little doubt that Bedard would become a franchise leader, with all the hype and excitement surrounding him when he was drafted at 17 years old. He now seems ready for the next challenge of wearing the “C”, saving the best phrase for last:
“Let’s go win some damn hockey games.”
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