With the main focus of the Blackhawks and their fans being on the extensions of Captain Johnathon Toews and Patrick Kane this off-season, there are also other key players to the Blackhawks success that needed extensions and deals this off-season as well.
Friday afternoon the Blackhawks wasted little time to ink backup goaltender Antti Raanta, right wing Ben Smith and forward Jeremy Morin to two year deals.
According to reports from ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, Antti Raanta’s contract has him making an Annual value of $750,000. Ben Smith, an AAV of $150,000 and Morin an AAV of $800,000.
Raanta (25) recorded a 13-5-4 record this past season as a Blackhawk behind their starting goaltender Corey Crawford. He also put an impressive .897 save %, a little dip from his over-seas percentage of .941 a year before. His 2.71 GAA in 25 appearances was also pretty impressive. Raanta will be heading in to his 2nd year as a pro, and good thing he’s still a Hawk.
Smith (25), is coming off his best year as an NHL player having appeared in 74 games recording a career-high 14 goals and 12 assists. Also recording four goals in the Blackhawks 2013-14 playoff run and two assists.
Morin (23), played 24 games with the Blackhawks and recorded five goals as well as playing 47 games with the team’s AHL affiliate the Rockford IceHogs recording 24 goals.
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