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Connor Bedard named Chicago Blackhawks captain, becomes NHL’s youngest
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In a little over a week, the NHL season will begin.
The Chicago Blackhawks will open in Las Vegas as they take on the defending Western Conference champion Golden Knights, a real test to start the new campaign.
Unfortunately, the Blackhawks will be without their star Connor Bedard, who is expected to miss at least the first month of the new season following successful surgery on his left shoulder. Bedard is coming off another great season as he scored 22 goals and added 39 assists over 68 games.
Good news did fall in the young center’s lap today, as Bedard was named captain of the Blackhawks for the 2026-27 season. This makes him the youngest active captain in the NHL.
Connor Bedard is the Blackhawks’ new captain.
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.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 15, 2026
He becomes the 2nd youngest captain (21 years old) in Chicago Blackhawks history, trailing behind Jonathan Toews was 20 years and 79 days old when he earned his first C.
Bedard made a statement following the announcement: “Being named captain of the Blackhawks is an unbelievable honor and something I’m truly humbled by. The captains who have come before me have left an incredible legacy. To now have the opportunity to carry that tradition forward is something I don’t take lightly. I’m grateful to the organization and my teammates for putting their trust in me to lead this team. We’re building something really special here, and I’m committed to making the entire Blackhawks organization and our fans proud.”
Pure class from Connor, as always.
This is a Blackhawks team looking to make improvements in 2026, and naming your star player as captain is a great start. They’ll need to prioritize goal scoring this season, as they were ranked 30th in goals per game (2.5) in 2025-26.
Second-year head coach Jeff Blashill will certainly have some pressure going into the new season.
With the Blackhawks looking to make a playoff push, will Connor Bedard take another leap in year four?
The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made the postseason since the 2019-20 season.
What needs to change for this team to make it back?
Well, goal scoring is the priority, but that skill will be tested early as Bedard rehabs from his surgery. The Blackhawks will need continued success from Tyler Bertuzzi, who had 58 points (32 goals, 26 assists) in 79 games last season.
Defensively, Chicago added Bowen Byram, who was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and signed to a six-year, $75 million contract right after. Byram is expected to start alongside Alex Vlasic on defense and will need to prove his worth immediately, as the Hawks gave up a lot to get him.
Patrick Kane also returns to Chicago, which will certainly provide a spark in the locker room and buzz around the city. Time will tell if he was a fun addition or if he actually makes an impact on this young roster. A lot will need to change in order to get away from that dismal 29-39-14 record they had last year.
More: Chicago Bears DB Kyler Gordon to return soon?
The post Connor Bedard named Chicago Blackhawks captain, becomes NHL’s youngest appeared first on ChiCitySports.
