The Chicago Blackhawks have locked up the two cornerstones of their franchise in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews for identical contracts of $10.5 million over 8 years. As the Hawks remain up against the new salary cap ceiling of $69 million, Chicago was not too busy on the free agent front, unlike their Central Division rivals (St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville). General Manager Stan Bowman’s main purpose of this year’s offseason was to re-sign his top duo long-term, and he has surely done that
Kane, 25, ranked second on the team in points last season with 69 (29 G, 40 A) in only 69 games due to injury. Once the postseason began, the Buffalo native continued his dominant play with 20 points in 19 games, leading his team. He also re-enforced his ability to score big-time goals for his club as he racked up four game-winning goals in the 2014 playoffs. After being drafted 1st overall in the 2007 NHL Draft, he has spent his entire NHL career in Chicago, suiting up in 515 games and registering 493 points in the process.
Toews, 26, has also spent the duration of his professional hockey career with the Blackhawks after being selected 3rd overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. The captain ended up right behind Kane in regular season scoring with 68 points (28G, 40 A) in 76 games, and was also sidelined down the stretch with a shoulder ailment. His postseason numbers didn’t fail to impress either, while he scored nine goals and added eight assists. Throughout his seven years in the National Hockey League, Toews has tacked 440 points in 484 games.
Although the two forwards’ original asking price was $12 million/year, agent Pat Brisson is more than satisfied with the deal, as is the entire Blackhawks organization. Kane and Toews have brought two Stanley Cups to Chicago in 2010 and 2013, and are arguably one of the most successful pairs in the NHL. Internationally, Toews has won two gold medals with Canada in ’10 and ’14, while Kane captured a silver medal in 2010 with the United States.
The Blackhawks may not have one of the most depth-filled rosters in the Western Conference, but they now have solidified their organization’s core for years to come.
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