The Chicago Blackhawks locked-up their last two restricted free agents last Wednesday by signing left wing Kris Versteeg to a three-year contract worth $9.2 million and left wing Bryan Bickell to a one-year deal. Versteeg’s deal averages out to $3.067 million, while the terms of Bickell’s contract were not disclosed. The signing comes in the wake of the NHLPA filing a grievance over the Blackhawks’ supposed improper qualifications of their restricted free agents. In 78 games last season with the Blackhawks, Versteeg scored 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points and 55 penalty minutes. He was a Calder Trophy finalist this past season as rookie-of-the-year, but lost out to goalie sensation Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bickell did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 42 games with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points and 60 penalty minutes.
The Bickell signing is mostly for offensive depth. If he makes the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line given their offensive depth. The Versteeg signing is a good one for the Blackhawks, as he has lots of offensive potential and plays with plenty of toughness. However, his contract puts the team very close to the salary cap for the next two seasons and the team has to re-sign star prospects Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith next summer. The Blackhawks will likely have to make a salary dumping trade between now and next summer in order to afford to retain their young talent. Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, and Brent Seabrook have all been rumored to be on the trade block to dump salary. The Blackhawks would not be in this position if they had not signed Marian Hossa to such an expensive and long-term contract. Sure, signing Hossa could help the team have a long playoff run this season, but it could hurt the team in the long run because now they don’t have a lot of salary to re-sign key players. It will be interesting to see how the team remedies this situation between now and next summer.
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