Site last updated: Friday, April 26, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Toews, Kane get 8-year extensions with 'Hawks

CHICAGO — This was a no-brainer from start to finish. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known.

All that was left was crunching the numbers on a pair of the biggest contracts in franchise history.

The Blackhawks announced Wednesday they had reached eight-year extensions with two of their top performers in a long run of success that includes Stanley Cup titles in 2010 and 2013. Toews and Kane led Chicago back to the Western Conference final this year, where it lost to the eventual NHL champion Los Angeles Kings.

General manager Stan Bowman said all along that the extensions were his biggest offseason priority, and it didn’t take very long to reach the agreements with Pat Brisson, who represents both players. Toews and Kane each have one year left on their five-year extensions from December 2009, and July 1 was the first day they could sign new deals.

Toews and Kane made it clear right after the Game 7 loss to Los Angeles that they wanted to stay with the Blackhawks, who added (hash)8MoreYears to their tweets about the deal.

“There’s no organization in sports that cares more about the overall experience of their fans and the success of their players,” Toews said in a statement released by the team. “There’s nothing we want more as players than to continue to win Stanley Cups for the best hockey fans on the planet.”

More in Professional

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS