Blackhawks name Connor Bedard captain at 21 on September 15

The Chicago Blackhawks named Connor Bedard their 37th captain on September 15, 2026. At 21 years old, Bedard is the second-youngest captain in franchise history, just 60 days after his 21st birthday. Bedard was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. Since entering the league, he has recorded 203 points in 215 games, according to Yahoo NHL's reporting. He recently signed a five-year contract worth $75 million with the Blackhawks. General Manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement: "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." 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. 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." The captaincy draws parallels to Jonathan Toews, who was named captain in 2008 shortly after turning 20. The Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups in the five years following Toews' appointment. Chicago recently signed Patrick Kane, a three-time Blackhawks champion, to provide veteran leadership alongside Bedard. Bedard injured his shoulder while training in the offseason and had surgery, meaning he will miss the start of the 2026-27 season. Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues were also named captains this month, per Yahoo NHL.