The Blackhawks added to their list of future contracts Tuesday afternoon by signing 21-year-old Antti Saarela. Chicago’s rights to him were set to expire in June, so they decided to lock him down to a two-year deal that carries a yearly salary cap hit of $896,250.

Scheme Fit

Saarela was drafted as a fourth-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2019 Entry Draft. He was drafted before the arrival of now-GM Kyle Davidson. However, he seems to fit the Davidson regime perfectly. Davidson appears to prioritize players that play fast and with lots of energy, and Saarela has both of those traits. He’s most well-known for his skating, like many other young Blackhawks, and he’s also physical with a good shot.

Saarela will hopefully slot in at either wing or center for Chicago eventually. In the meantime, he may be able to finish the season with the IceHogs, according to assistant GM Mark Eaton:

“He’s a guy that we think can contribute for us in the future. So we want to get him over here as soon as we can. If this season allows, great. If not, then we’ll certainly have him over here for rookie camp next year and training camp after that.”

– Assistant General Manager Mark Eaton

Since being drafted by the Blackhawks, Saarela has been biding his time in the Finnish Elite League, which is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. This season for Lukko, he skated in 41 games, tallying seven goals and 11 assists for a total of 18 points. He doesn’t have the best offensive production that the front office looks for, but his toolkit is promising.

… And Company

Saarela isn’t the only young skater to sign with the Blackhawks over these past few weeks. Forwards Ryder Rolston and Paul Ludwinski, as well as defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, were all locked in via entry-level contracts. It’s always great to see all of the young players getting opportunities at some level. Kaiser, most notably, appeared to have won a spot on the third defensive line over Ian Mitchell, who had a rough few games and likely won’t be returning in the fall. Saarela adds to a nice group of IceHogs that are on the cusp of their NHL debuts. Ideally, Saarela can get accustomed to the AHL before the season ends. With nine games left in the regular season, perhaps he can even join the group for a push for the Calder Cup.

Any time a young talent is signed by the Blackhawks, it can elicit a feeling of hope and promise, and Antti Saarela’s signing is no different. With his lack of offensive production, he may not be ready for the NHL anytime soon, but his upside due to his toolkit is extremely high. It doesn’t hurt that his skill set falls exactly in line with how Kyle Davidson would like to build this team: fast and high-energy. With a bit more experience, he can put his physical talents to good use and become an important part of future Blackhawks teams.