Post by Chicago Blackhawks on Jun 11, 2023 20:23:54 GMT -6
89 goals, 134 assists, 223 points in 163 games in a Chicago Blackhawks jersey, and the team is walking away from one of the "triplets". The team released a "Thank You Gino" highlight video full of regular-season highlights featuring Evgeni Malkin. A surprising move when you consider Evgeni is one of the top point producers in PFHL history.
"It comes down to what this team has had a lot of success with. Individual regular season stats. This needs to change, and this needs to change now. We thank Gino for everything and wish him luck with his next move. He deserves a ton of money, and we have to allocate budgets elsewhere and build out our team better. I gave this core and build two years. Just getting to the second round isn't enough. Our window is still open here to contend, but we need to adapt." stated GM Hetherington
While one triplet was denied the "bag," another secured it. The youngest of the 'lets Mikko Rantanen, recently signed a two-year $9,500,000 contract with a $4,750,000 signing bonus. Which was an easy signing as it was only a $250,000 raise from his last deal. Despite some other big names on the roster, Mikko is wildly considered the face of the franchise, current and future. He was the team's first pick in the dispersal draft and is only 26. Still a lot of elite years left in him.
Rickard Rakell, who was acquired last offseason, also just signed a new deal; $7,480,000 for three years, with a signing bonus of $2,244,000. Rakell had a breakout this playoff leading the team in points while anchoring the team's second line. However, his regular season stats were a bit disappointing. Maybe he gets the first shot at that empty triplet spot on the top line. Rickard has the offensive attributes. Lining up with Panarin and Rantanen could do wonders for him.
After choosing not to re-sign Malkin and putting some of those funds into these two contracts. The Blackhawks enter the offseason with quite a bit of cap room. Starting netminder MA Fleury is also considering retirement. Which would open up just under $20,000,000 in cap space from the two of them, and they own all their original draft picks. But the Hawks have holes. Lot's of rumours out there, but this should be a wild and crazy offseason for the Chicago Blackhawks.
"It comes down to what this team has had a lot of success with. Individual regular season stats. This needs to change, and this needs to change now. We thank Gino for everything and wish him luck with his next move. He deserves a ton of money, and we have to allocate budgets elsewhere and build out our team better. I gave this core and build two years. Just getting to the second round isn't enough. Our window is still open here to contend, but we need to adapt." stated GM Hetherington
While one triplet was denied the "bag," another secured it. The youngest of the 'lets Mikko Rantanen, recently signed a two-year $9,500,000 contract with a $4,750,000 signing bonus. Which was an easy signing as it was only a $250,000 raise from his last deal. Despite some other big names on the roster, Mikko is wildly considered the face of the franchise, current and future. He was the team's first pick in the dispersal draft and is only 26. Still a lot of elite years left in him.
Rickard Rakell, who was acquired last offseason, also just signed a new deal; $7,480,000 for three years, with a signing bonus of $2,244,000. Rakell had a breakout this playoff leading the team in points while anchoring the team's second line. However, his regular season stats were a bit disappointing. Maybe he gets the first shot at that empty triplet spot on the top line. Rickard has the offensive attributes. Lining up with Panarin and Rantanen could do wonders for him.
After choosing not to re-sign Malkin and putting some of those funds into these two contracts. The Blackhawks enter the offseason with quite a bit of cap room. Starting netminder MA Fleury is also considering retirement. Which would open up just under $20,000,000 in cap space from the two of them, and they own all their original draft picks. But the Hawks have holes. Lot's of rumours out there, but this should be a wild and crazy offseason for the Chicago Blackhawks.
