Blackhawks extend Stan Bowman's contract through 2020-21

The Chicago Blackhawks announced a three-year extension Tuesday for Stan Bowman, the team's senior vice president and general manager.

His contract now runs through the 2020-21 season.

Bowman, 42, is in his sixth season as GM, after spending eight years in the team's hockey operations department.

"It's a joy to work for this team," Bowman told Comcast SportsNet during the Hawks' 5-0 loss to Carolina. "Hopefully we can keep this going for a long time." "I am proud of how much Stan and his staff have accomplished and have great confidence in his leadership as our organization continues to strive for consistent excellence," said President & CEO John McDonough. "Under Stan's guidance, our hockey operations department is strong across all levels, including scouting, player evaluation and development, and salary cap management.

"He has created a sound structure that Blackhawks fans can be excited about for many years to come."

Earlier this month Blackhawks officials also extended the contract of head coach Joel Quenneville through the 2019-20 season.

"We've worked together long enough now that we understand how each one sees the game," Bowman said of he and Quenneville. "We see the game in a very similar way, and you're not going to see every situation identical, but that's OK. Differences of opinion here or there are not a bad thing."

Bowman has helped build rosters that have won three Stanley Cup titles in the last six seasons. In the last nine months, he also made two moves that have helped the Hawks remain among the elite teams in the NHL.

The first was to sign Russian phenom Artemi Panarin to a two-year deal in April. The 24-year-old might be a lock to win the Calder Trophy as he leads all rookies with 17 goals and 29 assists.

The other bold move was to trade 22-year-old Brandon Saad to Columbus for Artem Anisimov, the 6-foot-4 Russian who has centered the Hawks' second line with aplomb all season.

Not every move has panned out (see Bryan Bickell and his cap-dragging four-year, $16 million deal that has one season remaining on it), but Bowman has hit on more moves than not as general manager.

Bowman is a 1995 graduate of Notre Dame. He and wife, Suzanne, have two sons, Will and Camden, and a daughter, Graycen.

• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh