Vlasic signs surpring 6 year contract with Blackhawks

This just in from Chicago Blackhawks insider Scott Powers, the team has reportedly signed defenseman Alex Vlasic to a six year contract extension worth $4.6 million per season.

From Powers' latest column for The Athletic:

The Blackhawks locked up that potential on Wednesday, as the team and Vlasic agreed to a six-year contract extension with a $4.6 million cap hit, a league source said. Vlasic’s contract will expire after the 2029-30 season.

- Scott Powers

The 22 year old defenseman was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dark season for the Blackhawks. The Chicago native acquitted himself well in his first full NHL season, putting up 16 points in 76 games. His new contract is a dream come true for the local boy.

“I would love to be here as long as possible,” Vlasic said after the season. “It’s amazing being able to play for my hometown team, the same city I grew up in, so I’m not really looking to go anywhere else. So yeah, I want to be here as long as possible, and (Davidson) knows that.”

Vlasic's partner for much of the campaign, veteran Seth Jones, heaped praise on the youngster in his season wrap-up press availability.

“Vlassy, playing with him all year, tremendous steps,” Jones said after the season. “I played with Werenski when he was 21, and they’re different players, but you see the same stuff that you’re seeing there — I am personally. Vlassy is going to be a heck of a defenseman, and I had a lot of fun playing with him this year.”

Vlasic's head coach Luke Richardson was also pleased with what he saw from Vlasic this past season and expects even more from him in the coming years.

“It was incredible from day one what he accomplished this year,” Richardson said of Vlasic after the season. “Being in a top pairing role with Seth, I think they really complement each other well. And with their range and with their reach, I think they really defended well. But both of them, at times, can get up the ice and add into the offense.”

Specifically, Richardson believes that Vlasic can add more offense to his game as he gets more comfortable in the NHL.

“I know Vlassy was a little frustrated he didn’t get more finish on his offense, but that’ll come,” Richardson said. “I thought he started shooting the puck better at the end of the year and he’s going to get one of those shorthanded breakaways one of these times. But with the composure that he played with and just the skating ability, laterally, he just stole pucks all over the place and turned them into line rushes for. It was incredible to see. And he’s just 22. Right now he’s going to start to fill out because he’s so long and rangy. If he keeps that skating and lateral skating ability and mobility and puts on another 10, 15 pounds of solid muscle and strength, he’s going to be a hard man to play against, for sure.”

Vlasic, Jones, veteran Connor Murphy and youngster Kevin Korchinski are the only Blackhawks defensemen currently under contrat for next season.