Chicago and forward Connor Bedard have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract for the No. 1 overall draft pick.
The NHL team said Monday the deal through the 2025-26 season, announced on Bedard's 18th birthday, will mean a $950,000 US annual salary cap hit, the maximum allowed. "Signing Connor is a huge step in building a new foundation for our organization," general manager Kyle Davidson said. "We're excited to see him grow and play a large role in pushing our team forward for many years to come." Bedard became the second No.
1 pick in franchise history, joining Patrick Kane, who went first overall in 2007 and helped form the core of a team that won three Stanley Cups from 2010 to 2015.
Kane's tenure in Chicago ended in February when he was traded to the New York Rangers. The five-foot-nine, 185-pound Bedard spent the past three seasons with the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats and on the international stage.