Blackhawks Name Connor Bedard Their 37th Captain

Connor Bedard is the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The club made it official on Tuesday, naming the 21-year-old forward the 37th captain in franchise history. At 21 years and 60 days old, he is the second-youngest to hold the job in Chicago, behind only Jonathan Toews, who was 20 years and 79 days when he got the letter.

"Being named captain of the Blackhawks is an unbelievable honor and something I'm truly humbled by," Bedard said. "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."

Bedard takes over from Nick Foligno, who wore the C from September 2024 until he was traded to the Minnesota Wild on March 6, 2026. Bedard served as an alternate captain for the remainder of the season.

The first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft enters his fourth season in Chicago. He set career highs in 2025-26 with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games, and became the third Blackhawks player to score 30 in a season at age 20 or younger, joining Toews (34 in 2008-09) and Eric Daze (30 in 1995-96). He has 203 points in 219 career games and won the Calder Trophy in 2023-24.

"Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk," general manager Kyle Davidson said. "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."

He will start his captaincy from the sidelines. Bedard, who signed a five-year, $75 million contract on July 18, had surgery on his left shoulder after an injury during an offseason training session in Vancouver on July 2 and is expected to be out until November. He has been skating and taking shots in informal sessions at the team's practice facility.

Chicago opens training camp Thursday.