Connor Bedard: will he Be the Blackhawks’ next captain? (Image Source: IMAGN)

Connor Bedard is reportedly being considered for the Chicago Blackhawks’ vacant captain position. The question remains whether the team believes he’s ready for this role in just his second season.

The NHL asked fans on X/Twitter:

“Who do you want to see wearing the ‘C’ in Chicago?”

The options given were:

Connor Bedard (No. 98), the young Canadian center for the Blackhawks.
Nick Foligno (No. 17), the American left winger and current alternate captain.
Seth Jones (No. 4), the American defenseman and alternate captain.
Connor Murphy (No. 5), another American defenseman and alternate captain.

“Foligno this year, Bedard next year,” one fan said.

“Foligno. Being a captain is not just an award it comes with a whole host of responsibilities and requires skills other than scoring goals. Bedard will have his chance someday but it would be good for him to learn from someone that has been a leader in NHL locker rooms before,” another fan commented.

“All the other guys here are nobodies, no offense. Unless the hawks trade for another star even with his age I’d go Bedard,” one fan said.

Here are some more reactions from NHL fans on X:

“Foligno really should but won’t be here for long and then want a long term captain. It’ll probably be Bedard (anyone calling him Bedsy should have their account suspended),” one fan said.

“Bedard is the best player, he is NOT the captain. They’ve forced everything else on him so they’ll probably do this too but it’s a mistake. It should be Foligno or honestly remain vacant until Bedard is actually a captain,” another fan tweeted.

“Seth Jones? After being there so many years now and being utterly forgetful? They better not. Nick Foligno came in and immediately you could tell he was trying to make a difference and be there for the other players, been a leader. I’d love to see Nick with the C again,” one fan added.

Chicago Blackhawks delay naming captain as Connor Bedard emerges as future leader

As of Saturday, the Blackhawks still do not have a captain. GM Kyle Davidson made this decision in the 2022-23 season, saying he wanted a smooth transition from Jonathan Toews, who was captain for 15 years. Davidson chose not to name a new captain right away, to let potential leaders like Connor Bedard emerge naturally.

Bedard, who turned 19 in July, is considered a future captain due to his strong leadership. The Blackhawks might wait before naming him captain to further focus on his development. Nick Foligno, who has become a de facto leader, signed a two-year extension and might serve as a short-term captain.

The Blackhawks may use a leadership committee or give Foligno a temporary captaincy for the season, to ensure that Bedard is fully ready for the role when the right time comes.

Who do you think should be the Chicago Blackhawks’ next captain? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.