From the 2008-09 season through 2022-23, the Chicago Blackhawks had just one captain. Jonathan Toews led the team, helping them win three Stanley Cup titles. After the 2022-23 season, it was announced that Toews would not be playing the next year. After a year without a captain, Nick Foligno was named the captain. He was traded last season, leaving the captaincy open once again.

Now, the team has announced who will be wearing the “C” on his chest in 2026-27.

Connor Bedard has been named the 37th captain in Blackhawks history. Bedard was an obvious choice. He has become the face of the franchise since being the first selection in the 2023 NHL Draft by the team. Since then, he has played in 219 games with the franchise, scoring 75 goals and adding 128 assists. His leadership of the franchise is something that GM Kyle Davidson noted in his statement about the move to make Bedard the captain, per Vinnie Parise of The Hockey News.

“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. We're proud to have him lead this storied franchise and excited for him to shape the next chapter of Blackhawks hockey,” Davidson said in his statement.

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Bedard has since released a statement about the honor of being named the captain, per Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN.

“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,” Bedard said in the statement.

Bedard will also have some veteran support in his new role. Patrick Kane rejoined the franchise this year, and he was the alternate captain for multiple seasons previously.