PRAGUE — The Blackhawks solved one of their biggest impending headaches a year ahead of time by signing Alex DeBrincat to a three-year contract extension Thursday.
The new deal carries a relatively manageable $6.4 million annual salary cap hit.
DeBrincat has one year left with a paltry $778,333 cap hit, the final year of his entry-level contract, and was set to be a restricted free agent next summer, when the extension will now kick in.
The 21-year-old winger ranked in the top 10 in the NHL last season with 41 goals, and tallied 76 points overall.
Considering how universally difficult re-signing this summer’s class of RFAs proved to be around the league — out of the four headliners (Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Point and Sebastian Aho), three held out into training camp before re-signing — Hawks general manager Stan Bowman was understandably eager to avoid a similar headache.
With this extension, the Hawks exchange lengthy term for a lower cap hit, which appears a wise exchange given the other expensive salaries they carry throughout the roster.
A longer-term contract, especially if signed after another excellent season, could have pushed into the $9 million to $10 million cap hit range.
Dylan Strome, DeBrincat’s closest off-ice friend, remains on track to become an RFA in 2020, but this move increases the odds that a Strome extension will also happen soon.
