Forward Joey Anderson has re-signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, earning a one-year, two-way extension. The 25-year-old’s new contract carries a $800K cap hit.
A pending restricted free agent, the Blackhawks acquired Anderson from the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the return for defenseman Jake McCabe and forward Sam Lafferty in late February. He looked effective while skating in a career-high 38 NHL games this season, split between Chicago and Toronto.
A third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2016, Anderson played 34 games during his rookie season with New Jersey in 2018-19 but largely slipped to a top-six AHL role in the following years. After earning more of a look with Toronto this year when injuries struck, though, he gave the Blackhawks something to think about after the McCabe deal. He stayed in the NHL through the end of Chicago’s season, recording four goals and six points in 24 games before heading to AHL Rockford for the last few games of their 2022-23 campaign.
Anderson was due a qualifying offer of $840K after completing a three-year, $750K average annual value extension signed with Toronto in 2020. His contract was one-way in nature last season, entitled to an $800K salary wherever he played. If he gets demoted to the minors at all in 2023-24, he’ll be taking a pay cut (PuckPedia reports his AHL salary is $475K).
He looked good to me last year, but I didn’t see many hawks games. If they pick Domi back up too, that’s a few good pieces already with Anathasiou (sorry if misspelled) already in as well. Then there’s the Kane question.. would he go back? Imagine him and Bedard on the power play.. that could be deadly.
Kane is not coming back. We need to move on from that one. The only shot in the future is a one day retire as a Blackhawk deal.
Not exactly a move that’ll get you to the Cap Floor but OK. :o)
My guess is they are saving that money to take advantage of Pittaburgh, Vancouver and Columbus, although I very much doubt they want Merliekens 4 years. I could absolutely see them getting picks and Granland or picks and Garland. Those both could be interesting names to watch.