Connor Bedard signs one of the richest contracts in the NHL!

The summer of gigantic contracts in the National Hockey League continues, and this time it's Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard who is cashing in.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks issued an official statement in which they announced that Bedard and the team had agreed to terms on a 5 year deal with an average annual value and salary cap hit of $15 million per season.

It's a huge number to be sure but it comes off the heels of Bedard having what was unquestionably the best season of his young NHL career thus far. Despite appearing in only 69 games, Bedard put up 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points last season.

You have to believe that some of the contracts that have already been handed out this summer played a significant role in this number going so high, and that includes the deal signed by his newest teammate. The Blackhawks signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a massive 6 year deal with an AAV of $12.5 million per season earlier this summer, a deal that set the stage for Bedard to cash in with a big pay day. There's also the matter of the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, a ridiculous 5 years at an AAV of $18 million per season, that highlighted to teams just how important it is to get these deals done early.

Now only time will tell if Bedard lives up to this massive new contract.