From the second the Blackhawks’ dismal season wrapped up a week ago, the main mission of the front office was simple: extend. Alex. Vlasic. Chicago’s top defenseman came out of nowhere this past season in a contract year and facing restricted free agency, the Blackhawks HAD to get a deal done.
On Thursday morning, Chicago did just that, and in doing so, got the biggest steal the NHL has seen in a long time. The Blackhawks agreed to a contract extension with Vlasic for six years and $27.6 million, worth $4.6 million annually.
“It’s amazing to be able to play for [my] hometown team, the same city I grew up in… I want to be here as long as possible.”
– Alex Vlasic
The deal will make Vlasic the second highest-paid blueliner on the Blackhawks, but it could be argued he deserved even more. In a year where nothing seemed to go right in Chicago, he emerged as one of the best defensive skaters in the entire league. Per the Athletic, Vlasic ranks in the 93rd percentile in defensive rating – as a 22-year-old. The 6-foot-6 blueliner plays over 20 minutes per game, and according to the same player card, has a market value of $6.5 million. For the Blackhawks to lock him in for six years at nearly $2 million less than that is a master class from GM Kyle Davidson.
It’s safe to label Vlasic as the most pleasant surprise of this season. While players like Connor Bedard have burst onto the scene this year, they already faced high expectations. The hope was that Vlasic would be able to develop into a premier blueliner as Chicago builds a contender, but no one could’ve seen his stellar season coming.
The 2019 second-round pick isn’t extraordinary on the offensive end, but his defensive wherewithal has made him an every-night staple on the top pairing alongside Seth Jones. Vlasic excels at pairing his long reach with his ability to read plays before they happen, breaking up passes on every inch of the defensive zone. Despite playing in 76 games on one of the worst teams in franchise history, Vlasic only posted a plus-minus of -4, even while only contributing 16 points offensively. Chicago simply doesn’t have to worry about getting scored on when Vlasic is on the ice, and they’ll now have that peace of mind for at least six more years.
There was little doubt the defenseman would receive an extension this summer because of his enormous value to the team, but no one could have foreseen the Blackhawks getting such a steal. Chicago finally has the first cornerstone contract done in the young core of its rebuild while retaining more than enough wiggle room for years to come.
