Blackhawks extend Highmore, sign 3 others
The Blackhawks agreed to terms with four players Thursday:
• Forward Matthew Highmore signed a 2-year, $1.45 million extension that runs through the 2021-22 season. Highmore, originally signed as an undrafted free agent in March 2017, appeared in a career-high 36 NHL games this season. He had 2 goals and 4 assists. The 24-year-old also had 4 goals and 8 assists in 21 games with Rockford.
• Goalie Kevin Lankinen inked a two-year, $1.6 million deal. Lankinen went 8-10-2 with a .909 save percentage and 3.03 goals-against average for Rockford this season and was an AHL All-Star. He set a franchise record with 55 saves during a 2-1 OT win over Milwaukee Dec. 10. Lankinen led Finland to a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF (juniors) World Championship, going 7-1-0 and posting a .942 save percentage.
• Evan Barratt, drafted in the third round by the Hawks in 2017, agreed to a three-year, entry-level deal worth $2.61 million. The 6-foot, 188-pound forward tied for the team lead at Penn State this season with 12 goals in 34 games. He scored 16 times in 32 games last season.
• Andrei Altybarmakyan, also a third-round pick in 2017, signed a two-year, entry-level deal worth $1.635 million. The 5-11, 191-pound forward scored 6 goals and had 11 assists in 49 games while playing in the Kontinental Hockey League and HK Tambov of the VHL.
The Hawks have three important players still unsigned: forwards Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome, and defenseman Ian Mitchell.
Kubalik scored 30 times in 68 games and is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
Mitchell (10G, 22A in 36 games at the University of Denver) was taken in the second round in 2017 and could compete for a spot on the opening-night roster next season.