Blackhawks re-sign Dominik Kubalik, Malcolm Subban to 2-year contracts

Dominik Kubalik will be a member of the Blackhawks for at least three more years following his rookie breakout. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Dominik Kubalik is staying with the Blackhawks.

Right as the NHL free agency window opened Friday, the Hawks announced a two-year contract extension for Kubalik with a $3.7 million cap hit.

The Hawks also re-signed goaltender Malcolm Subban to a two-year contract with an $850,000 cap hit.

Kubalik, 25, led all NHL rookies and ranked second on the Hawks with 30 goals in 68 games during the 2019-20 season, adding 16 assists.

The little-known Czech forward and former Swiss League MVP was arguably the brightest spot of the season for the Hawks and ultimately finished third in Calder Trophy voting for the league’s best rookie.

“I was nervous the last couple of days,” Kubalik said Friday. “It was something new for me. I’ve never had a chance to have conversations about the contract. In Europe, you get the offer, take it or not. So, it’s different. But happy it’s done and very excited about it.”

Kubalik said his agent, Jiri Hamal, actually asked for a longer term than the two years he and the Hawks eventually settled on.

But the shorter, bridge-style contract with the manageable $3.7 million cap hit gives the Hawks flexibility with other contracts and also flexibility in case Kubalik doesn’t repeat his 2019-20 production. Plus, he’ll be a restricted free agent again in 2022, giving the Hawks more control.

“Obviously, we wanted to stay in Chicago and stay there for longer,” Kubalik said. “For me, both sides should be happy, so that was my first goal. I’m happy; I hope Chicago is happy too.”

Kubalik often said last season — his first as a pro in North America — that he entered it with the lowest of expectations: he simply hoped to make the team out of training camp.

Expectations will be much higher entering his second season, a new challenge he’ll have to manage mentally.

“The first goal right now is to show that it wasn’t just one season, to keep going, keep getting better,” he said “That’s basically what’s in my head now. Those things I can handle. The other things, you’re always going to face adversity, but you just need to be ready for it.

“Everybody maybe is going to expect that I’m going to score another 30 goals. I would take it obviously, but you never know what’s going to happen.”

Malcolm Subban played in only two games for the Blackhawks last season, but is now coming back for two more years.

Subban, meanwhile, was not given a qualifying offer, implying the Hawks wouldn’t retain him after acquiring him in the Robin Lehner trade last February.

But the Hawks, per NHL rules, would’ve had to pay Subban at least $892,500 annually with his qualifying offer, so Friday’s contract announcement explains the confusion.

“The offer came up and I took it,” Subban said Friday. “Getting familiar with everyone here, getting familiar with the city, it’s been unbelievable so far and I’m so happy that I could sign back and be a part of this for a little bit longer.”

The 26-year-old goalie struggled for the Golden Knights last season, going 9-7-3 with an .890 save percentage. He made only two appearances for the Hawks after the trade, playing 71 seconds in brief relief March 3 then half of the Hawks’ unofficial pre-playoffs exhibition game Aug. 29.

He’ll nonetheless battle with AHL goalies Collin Delia and Kevin Lankinen for the right to man the Hawks’ crease next season with Corey Crawford gone.

After playing behind Tuukka Rask in Boston and Marc-Andre Fleury in Vegas previously in his career, this could be Subban’s long-awaited chance to break through.

“I’ve been preparing for it for a long time now,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep working hard. Obviously it’s three great goaltenders...so it’s good competition.”