Hawks already have most key players signed for next year

Editor's note: This is the first of a three-part series on the future of the Blackhawks, with today's focus on the core of the team.

Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon insists he will do whatever it takes to keep the core of one of the most entertaining teams in the NHL together.

Signing potential unrestricted free agent Martin Havlat for reasonable terms will be the first indicator of how well Tallon can solve this puzzle.

Getting restricted free agents Dave Bolland, Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager and Troy Brouwer re-signed could be another tricky task.

The good news is 11 regulars already are locked up for next season, including five of the most important players on the team in Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane, as well as Brian Campbell, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Cristobal Huet and Adam Burish.

"This is the best group of guys I've ever played with so I hope it all works out and we can stay together," Kane said.

His head coach understands that won't be easy.

"It's going to be a challenge," coach Joel Quenneville said," but I think if you look at every team they all have issues with the economics changed the way they have, and who knows what they're going to be going forward. You manage it as best you can. I'm sure there are going to be decisions with our group, but that makes it fun as well as challenging.

"How much change, that is going to transpire over the course summer, but we have a lot of nice pieces in our system that hopefully have something to say in the fall. There's always a surprise or two along the way, but I think the key pieces we expect to be in place shouldn't change too much."

One player not going anywhere is Campbell, who is signed for seven more years.

Campbell gave the Hawks exactly the kind of season they expected when they signed him as a free agent last July to an eight-year deal worth more than $56 million, a franchise record.

Campbell wasn't brought in to be a lockdown defender, so it shouldn't have been a surprise when he wasn't on the ice late in games. He had 52 points in 82 games to rank 10th among all NHL defensemen, and he helped dictate the style the Hawks played with his ability to move the puck out of danger.

"I thought he was great in the playoffs and got better as the season went on," Tallon said. "For his first year after signing a big contract, I thought he had a very good year."

Campbell admitted he struggled with the weight of the contract ($7.1 million a season) on his shoulders.

"I had some ups and downs, but it was a fun process," Campbell said. "It was a challenge. As much as you say it doesn't affect you, the contract kind of hangs over your head a little bit. It takes time to adjust to it.

"At the end of the season, I felt really at home here in Chicago. I felt that's how I was supposed to play, and how I do play."

Campbell contends big contracts can make players try to do too much to live up to the money.

"I wasn't going to change how I played," Campbell said. "It was a bit of an adjustment, but I felt really good and comfortable in the playoffs with the puck and skating. That's the way I want to start and have a more consistent year next year."

Toews believes the core group is going to face some considerable challenges going forward after a 104-point regular season and winning two rounds in the playoffs.

"We were able to fly under the radar last year and surprise some people," Toews said. "This year it got a little tougher, and it's going to be the same next year.

"When you go up against teams like Detroit and San Jose during the regular season, I think every team plays better. I think we're definitely going to be considered one of those high-end teams where other players raise their level when they play against us."

Locked up with the Blackhawks Here's a glance at the salaries of players under contract with the Blackhawks for next season and beyond: 2009-10 Signed Player Cap hit Through Brian Campbell $7.1 mil 2016 Cristobal Huet $5.62 mil 2012 Patrick Sharp $3.9 mil 2012 Patrick Kane* $3.72 mil 2010 Brent Seabrook $3.5 mil 2011 Dustin Byfuglien $3 mil 2011 Jonathan Toews* $3 mil 2010 Brent Sopel $2.4 mil 2011 Duncan Keith $1.9 mil 2010 Andrew Ladd $1.55 mil 2010 Adam Burish $713,000 2010 Niklas Hjalmarsson $643,000 2010 * Includes potential bonuses