{"id":626588,"date":"2026-07-19T23:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T23:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/626588\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T23:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T23:15:13","slug":"snapshots-bedard-fantilli-sharpe-pantelas-pro-hockey-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/626588\/","title":{"rendered":"Snapshots: Bedard, Fantilli, Sharpe, Pantelas \u2013 Pro Hockey Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Brian La Rose<\/a> |
\n at July 19, 2026 4:53 pm <\/p>\n

The five-year term on Connor Bedard<\/a>\u2019s new $75MM contract with Chicago raised some eyebrows as it only bought the Blackhawks one extra year of team control.\u00a0 Typically, in those situations, a team will prefer a shorter-term pact to give them another shot at a long-term agreement down the road.\u00a0 Bedard\u2019s agent Don Meehan indicated to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times<\/a> that while the team did pursue a longer-term agreement with their top player, they didn\u2019t want to do a short-term agreement.\u00a0 Instead, they wanted some continuity and stability to send a signal both internally and externally, which they feel they get with this contract.\u00a0 Meehan also indicated that Bedard is taking an aggressive form of rehab in the hopes of getting back from his shoulder surgery before the projected four-month timeline that carries into November.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere around the hockey world:<\/p>\n

With Leo Carlsson<\/a>\u2019s offer sheet matched and Bedard\u2019s contract now done, the RFA center market shifts to Blue Jackets middleman Adam Fantilli<\/a>. GM Don Waddell is doing his best to deter an offer sheet from coming to his youngster as he told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch<\/a> that they are prepared to match any offer sheet that comes his way.\u00a0 The 21-year-old had 24 goals and 35 assists in 81 games last season, his most productive year yet.\u00a0 They also have over $23MM in cap room, per PuckPedia<\/a>, although goalie Jet Greaves<\/a> and center Cole Sillinger<\/a> both need new deals as well.
\nKings prospect Will Sharpe<\/a> has a new team for the upcoming season. The blueliner announced<\/a> on his Instagram page that he will play for St. Cloud State University next season.\u00a0 Sharpe was a seventh-round pick in 2025 and split last season between WHL Kelowna and Vancouver, notching five goals and 24 assists in 59 games.\u00a0 That actually represented a drop-off in production from the year before when he had 44 points in 66 contests.\u00a0 By going to the NCAA, Sharpe\u2019s signing timeline is extended; had he not made the switch, Los Angeles would have had until June 1st to sign him.
\nThe opening for Sharpe to make the jump to the NCAA came on the heels of another Kings prospect deciding to make a change, relays Postmedia\u2019s Steve Ewen<\/a>. Originally expected to attend St. Cloud State this season, Giorgos Pantelas decided to stay in the WHL instead.\u00a0 The 18-year-old indicated that he\u2019d go to school unless he was traded to Penticton, notes Perry Bergson of The Brandon Sun<\/a>.\u00a0 Pantelas was a fifth-round pick last month, going 153rd overall.\u00a0 The defenseman had 37 points in 68 games last season with WHL Brandon.<\/p>\n