Four now make more than Keith on Hawks' defense

Cam Barker's new three-year, $9.25 million contract makes him the third highest-paid defenseman on the Blackhawks' roster.

But more important, it drops Duncan Keith to the fifth highest-paid player on the blue line even though he is considered the Hawks' best defenseman.

Keith's $1.9 million salary for 2009-10 puts him behind Brian Campbell ($7.1 million), Brent Seabrook ($3.5 million), Barker ($3 million) and Brent Sopel ($2.5 million).

Keith is the best bargain in the NHL, and while some players might have complained by now about being underpaid, the Hawks' alternate captain simply goes about his business playing out the four-year deal he signed that expires next summer.

Keith could possibly be the biggest restricted free agent on the market next July, a player who could attract an offer sheet from another club.

Barker was the seventh of the Hawks' restricted free agents to sign on the dotted line, leaving only Kris Versteeg unsigned. Versteeg and the Hawks continued negotiations Tuesday even with the grievance filed by the NHL Players Association hanging over their head.

The arbitrator scheduled to hear the union's grievance still could declare Versteeg an unrestricted free agent, but both sides would prefer to get a deal done in Chicago.

Versteeg, a finalist for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, earned just $490,000 last season and could be seeking a contract in excess of $2 million a season.

The Hawks' payroll sits at $52.578 million, near the cap of $56.8 million, with Versteeg still to sign and the backup goalie's salary to factor into the mix, either Corey Crawford or Antti Niemi, whoever it turns out to be.

Tallon refused to speak with reporters covering Tuesday's session of the Hawks' prospect camp at Johnny's Ice House.

Winger Kyle Beach, the Hawks' 2008 first-round draft pick, stood out during the first scrimmages Tuesday. Beach figures to get a good shot to make the club in the fall, particularly if there is a trade of a forward or two off the current roster for salary-cap reasons.