The Chicago Blackhawks are entering a new era, and the future leadership core of the franchise is beginning to take shape right before everyone’s eyes. For years, fans and analysts speculated that Connor Bedard would one day become captain, the face of the franchise, and the heartbeat of the locker room. Now, in just his third NHL season, Bedard is showing that those expectations weren’t just fair, they were accurate. And he’s not rising alone.
Alongside him is Frank Nazar, the energetic, upbeat young center whose personality balances Bedard’s seriousness and adds life to the room. Together, the two are proving that the next leadership group of the Blackhawks, built around Bedard, Nazar, and likely Alex Vlasic, may be closer than anyone expected. The handoff from veterans like Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy appears not only inevitable but also harmonious.
Why Connor Bedard looks like the Blackhawks’ next captain
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Connor Bedard has always been the franchise player, but this season, he’s become more than that. He’s become a leader. With Foligno and Dickinson sidelined, Bedard has worn the “A” for the last few games, and coach Jeff Blashill believes he has “absolutely earned it.”
This stretch has given Bedard the chance to show everything a captain must be: productive, honest, vocal, and accountable.
He’s found his voice, a significant shift from his quieter first two seasons. Bedard is still introverted, but he has grown more comfortable speaking up, calling out teammates when needed, and praising them when they excel. He’s also become more open with the media, offering honest, thoughtful responses rather than cautious clichés.
Even during tense moments, Bedard is learning how to carry himself like a leader. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Kraken was a mistake, but it was a moment he learned from, a reminder of how captains must balance passion with restraint.
And then there’s his play. Bedard is tied for third in league scoring with 31 points in 21 games, putting him on a staggering 121-point pace. His output, competitiveness, and consistency place him firmly in “best-player, best-leader” territory, the modern trend in the NHL where superstars like McDavid and MacKinnon carry the responsibility of the “C.”
Connor Murphy captured it perfectly:
“His comfort zone and maturity socially among the team… has taken a big step this year. You see those leadership qualities coming out of him.”
Bedard isn’t just the Blackhawks’ most talented player; he’s becoming their emotional engine. And with the veterans on expiring contracts, his time as captain feels closer than ever.
Why Frank Nazar is built for the alternate captain role
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If Bedard represents the steady, serious leadership style, Frank Nazar is his perfect complement, the spark plug who keeps everyone connected and energized. Nazar’s personality is magnetic. He walks into the room and immediately lifts the mood.
“He wakes up most days and the sky is blue,” Blashill joked earlier this season. “Too many of us wake up and it’s cloudy. But not him.”
Nazar’s upbeat nature isn’t accidental; he puts effort into making sure every teammate feels supported. If someone seems down, he picks them up with a laugh, a joke, or a compliment. Hockey is supposed to be fun, Nazar insists, and he works to make it feel that way.
But underneath the lightheartedness is a focused, competitive center that wants to succeed badly. Nazar has 15 points in 19 games, suitable for a 65-point pace. He has taken firm control of the second-line center role. He knows how to be serious when moments demand it, and he’s learning how to thrive under pressure.
“When you’re blessed enough to play as much as I do, it’s something you should take on,” Nazar said. “It’s not pressure, it’s discipline.”
Veterans see the leadership qualities, too.
“Frank and Connor have taken it upon themselves to say, ‘I’m going to win games for us, night after night.’ That’s leadership,” Jason Dickinson said.
Nazar brings joy, Bedard brings focus. Together they form the perfect leadership duo for a young team learning how to win again.
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