Connor Bedard now wears the Blackhawks captaincy, and five former captains made sure he knows exactly what comes with it.
The video landed Tuesday, the same day the Blackhawks open their season in Las Vegas tonight.
Adrian Aucoin, Nick Foligno, Denis Savard, Chris Chelios and Jonathan Toews all weighed in on what the C means in Chicago.
That is a lot of history stacked on one set of shoulders.
Why does this matter more than a feel-good clip? Because Bedard carries a $15,000,000 cap hit, third-highest in the league, and the letter turns that contract into a leadership contract too.
The clip stacks the messages back to back, five voices, one new captain on the receiving end of every word.
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Jeff Blashill opens a three-game road trip with his new captain
Jeff Blashill doesn't get a soft start. The Blackhawks play in Vegas tonight, Utah on Thursday and Buffalo on Saturday before their first home game.
That home date comes Tuesday, Oct. 6, against St. Louis. Chicago beat the Blues 3-2 on Saturday, so the first night back comes against a familiar face.
The Blackhawks went 2-1-1 over their recent stretch. Hardly a statement, but the group heads west with a win in its pocket.
Giving Bedard the C is the right call. A player paid like the face of a franchise should carry the room, and Kyle Davidson had no reason to wait for a perfect moment that never shows up.
It's like inheriting the family business with notes from every previous owner taped to the office door. Nice gesture, and a reminder of everyone watching.
Once the trip ends, October turns friendly on paper. After a stop on Long Island, the Blackhawks play seven straight at home through Oct. 27.
Carolina, Pittsburgh, Winnipeg, Dallas, Montreal, Florida and Los Angeles all come through in that stretch. That's where the letter stops being ceremonial.
The legends said their piece. Now the new captain has to find his own voice in a locker room that will judge him by the standings long after this video stops trending.
Is Connor Bedard ready to carry the Blackhawks captaincy right now?
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