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Eight-year contract extension announced and Connor Bedard's smiling ear to ear
Photo credit: Matt Krohn
With the Los Angeles Kings' signing of Adrian Kempe, it looks as if Connor Bedard is smiling ear to ear as he watches the NHL's new cap floor be established, upping his value by a wide margin on his upcoming contract extension.
Forward Adrian Kempe has signed an eight-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings, effectively taking him off the market and setting the floor for other forwards in the NHL.
Kempe has been a top-six player for the Kings and has been a 70+ point player the last two seasons. With his latest deal, the floor has been established for players like Connor Bedard.
According to a report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Kempe has signed an eight-year extension that pays him $10.625 million AAV (average annual value).
Adrian Kempe has set the Floor For Connor Bedard's Next Contract with the Chicago Blackhawks
Kempe has signed a $10.6 million deal, which is along the lines of what NHL Insider Jeff Marek believes will be the floor for the superstar forward of the Chicago Blackhawks.
This also echoes what NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun believes Bedard will sign for with his next contract.
«I'm totally guessing here, but I think Chicago will do all it can to go the max eight years, while it wouldn't surprise me if Newport Sports pushes for five. For five years, I could see something in the $10 million average-annual-value range, or just above. For seven or eight years, you're looking more at the $12 million-plus range.»
While he hasn't exactly "dominated" the NHL, his first two seasons in the NHL have seen him score 128 points in 150 games for the Original Six team.
The reason the Blackhawks haven't signed Bedard to an extension is due to the fact that negotiations are ongoing.
Fans shouldn't worry, as Bedard wants to remain in Chicago, with his last update on an extension being positive. From July:
''You talk here and there. It's all been positive. Obviously, it hasn't happened yet, but there's no concern [about] anything from either end. There's a good relationship there, so that will get done when it gets done.''
Now, we have an idea of where the Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson could begin, and he could receive significantly more as the foundation of the team's future.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
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