"Bedard captain 2025-26" "Give it to Foligno" - NHL fans left debating on who should be next Blackhawks captain

The NHL regular season is drawing to a close and teams are shifting their focus to the off-season. Chicago Blackhawks fans ponder who will assume the role of the next captain.

Jonathan Toews's retirement has created a leadership void that requires filling. Throughout the 2023-24 season, the team played without naming a captain, sparking speculation and debate among fans and insiders.

Blackhawks insider Charlie Roumeliotis recently tweeted about the uncertainty, quoting Hawks GM Kyle Davidson.

"#Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson wasn’t sure yet if there would be a captain next season. He said it will be an offseason conversation with the coaching staff," Roumeliotis tweeted.

This tweet prompted the NHL fans to offer their take on who should don the captain's "C" for the Hawks.

"Just give it to Nick, then Bedsy or whoever else deserves it in two years when Nick is gone," one fan tweeted, advocating for Nick, referring to veteran Nick Foligno.

"these team needs more than a captian lmao figure it out dude no more of a season like this worse than the tank season," one fan tweeted, expressing broader concerns about the team's overall performance and direction.

"Foligno is the captain of this team whether it’s official or not. I’d like to see him get rewarded for it. Dickinson and Murphy as the alts. Jones does not deserve a letter," another fan tweeted, voicing support for Foligno as the de facto captain.

The fan also suggested alternate captains in Dickinson and Murphy, while expressing reservations about Jones's suitability for a leadership role. The same perspective came from the next fan.

"Give it to Foligno or Murphy," the fan tweeted.

"Good. Bedard captain 2025-26. End of story," another fan tweeted, advocating for Connor Bedard.

Blackhawks Connor Bedard reflects on his rookie season

Connor Bedard reflected on his rookie NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday (via NHL.com):

“I think both. I mean, whenever you look back on something it’s going to feel like it went fast just because it’s done. Not that it’s done yet, a couple of games left, but it was a frustrating year. I think anyone would say that with how we did."

Bedard has led the team and NHL rookies with 60 points, garnering attention. He could potentially win the Calder Trophy.

Off the ice, he's adapted well to living independently and is looking forward to a calmer summer to work on his game further.