The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have signed centers Dave Bolland and Jake Dowell, and goaltender Antti Niemi to contract extensions, just days before the start of free agency. Bolland was signed to a five-year contract worth $16.875 million, which averages out to $3.375 million per season. Dowell signed a two-year extension, while Niemi was re-signed for one year. Terms of their deals were not disclosed. All three players would have become restricted free agents on July 1, with Bolland the most likely of the trio to receive an offer sheet. Last season, Bolland appeared in 81 games, scoring 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points and 52 penalty minutes, all career highs for the young forward. Dowell appeared in only one game with the Blackhawks in 2008-09, scoring no points. In 20 career games over two season with Chicago, he has two goals and one assist for three points. In three games last season for the Blackhawks, Niemi posted a 1-1-1 record with a GAA of 3.40 and a .864 save percentage.
Signing Bolland to a long-term contract is a good move for the Blackhawks, as he showed last season that he is capable of putting up decent numbers. His two-way skills and toughness will make him a valuable part of the team, especially on the checking lines, for years to come. If he can up his offensive production over the next couple of season, he could become an affordable top-six forward for the Blackhawks. Dowell is a very physical forward who could play an enforcer role with the team in the near future. If the team cuts loose Ben Eager to save salary cap space to re-sign players like Martin Havlat, Cam Barker, and Kris Versteeg, Dowell could jump to the Blackhawks next season as one of their top enforcers. Niemi enjoyed plenty of success in the Finnish league before signing with the Blackhawks last season. His solid goaltending skills could challenge Corey Crawford for the back-up role next season if Nikolai Khabibulin is not retained over the summer.
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