The Chicago Blackhawks won’t play around with a long restricted free agent negotiation next summer, instead getting their homework done early. The team has announced a three-year extension for Alex DeBrincat, taking him through the 2022-23 season. DeBrincat will earn an average of $6.4MM each year, quickly making him the third-highest paid forward on the Blackhawks roster. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic has the full breakdown:
- 2020-21: $1.0MM salary + $4.0MM signing bonus
- 2021-22: $5.1MM salary
- 2022-23: $9.0MM salary
It’s hard to argue with a contract that locks up one of the league’s best goal-scoring talents before he even sniffs free agency, but this deal does come with a bit of risk. The third-year salary means that the Blackhawks will have to issue DeBrincat a $9MM qualifying offer, and the young forward will be arbitration eligible. Still, with two RFA years remaining after this deal and coming off an incredible 41-goal season, GM Stan Bowman did well to avoid any drawn out contract talks. In fact, should DeBrincat take another step forward this season and push for the Rocket Richard trophy, $6.4MM will seem like a steal (if it doesn’t already).
There are few players in the NHL that can match DeBrincat’s uncanny ability to get open. Whether it is slowing down on the rush to open up for a cross-ice pass, or settling into an open area after the puck has been cycled, the 5’7″ forward constantly finds himself with enough room to snap his quick shot into the back of the net. Obviously playing with talented playmakers like Patrick Kane helps, but there’s no denying the skill of DeBrincat in the offensive zone. Through the first two years of his career he has shot a whopping 17.2% and while that is likely to go down somewhat, DeBrincat’s shot selection is elite and should naturally lead to higher percentages.
The fact that he has scored 69 goals through 164 games perhaps isn’t mentioned enough when hockey fans talk about the next generation of NHL stars. Brock Boeser and Kyle Connor for instance have both scored fewer goals so far in their careers, and neither has hit that impressive 40-goal threshold in a single season. Locking up a potential league-leading goal machine for three years at a reasonable amount is nice work for the Blackhawks and Bowman.
Interestingly, a three-year extension for DeBrincat lines up with a pair of other contracts in Chicago. Kane, Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2023, meaning the team will have the ultimate flexibility at that point to pivot in a different direction if they feel the need. Should DeBrincat demand another huge raise at that point, the team will be able to craft a lineup revolving around him.
As most know on this site I’m not a Bowman fan. However credit is due when it’s earned and Bowman did a great job on this. Keep the good work up Stan
Let’s see in a few years when he basically has to pay him 10mil to stay.
Kane, Toews, DeBrincat all over 10mil
Better hope the cap goes up a TON
When Cat’s contract extension is up Toews, Kane, and Keith’s contracts will all be coming off the books at the same time. Also year prior Shaw, Maatta, de Haan, Murphy, Smith will all be coming off the books as well. Bowman will have money to work with. I’m not overly worried about it right now. Great signing by him to lock him up to bridge deal for the next few years
I don’t see Kane and Toews being able to get over 10mil in their mid 30’s.
“great job” + Stan Bowman usually don’t happen much in the same sentence. @pawtucket – that’s right, they better hope the cap practically doubles with the TV Deal monopoly money and the bet mongers deals. Does Stan think that this strategy is already working in TOR? “Copycat League” usually means waiting to see that other team “succeed” with their new idea, before taking it as your own.
If I were copycatting I’d use Tampa as a reference and underpay all my star players to below market deals.
@JD – remember, they’re only underpaid a little bit, thanks to the cozy income tax setup down there, and maybe the cost of living, to a lesser degree. And, they are also trying to maintain something of a hard line stance when it comes to their cap structure.
Yep. I respect what their players are doing. They’re prioritizing winning over padding their own wallets.
@JD – I think there’s a saying for that: “Bucking the trend.” Might not catch on, until the ‘Bolts hoist a Cup, or two…
Wow this is nice to have done already, perfect timing when it ends too