Top 5 Chicago Sports Stories In 2014
Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane sign contract extensions.
Toews and Kane were both top-five picks for the Blackhawks. Toews was picked third in the 2006 NHL draft, and a year later, Kane was the top pick in the 2007 draft. With those two picks, the Blackhawks’ fortunes turned.
With the two leading the way, the Blackhawks had a resurgence. They won two Stanley Cups, reached the Western Conference Finals four times, and made the playoffs six consecutive seasons. For those of us who suffered through old man Wirtz’s regime, you know how fantastic this run is for the franchise.
Of course, it is difficult to re-sign one superstar in his prime when there are a lot of other options around the league, and with two of them, the task is even greater.
Toews and Kane made it easy on the Blackhaws. They each had no intention of leaving Chicago, and they signed identical eight-year, $84 million contracts, even though each could have garnered about $14 million per year on the open market.
Kane expressed his and Toews thoughts on staying in Chicago. “Even you can see free agents these days, they want to come to Chicago and be a part of not only this team and organization, but the city and the fans as well, obviously the tradition that has been going on here for the past few years of winning hockey games,” Kane said. “It was not even a thought to think about continuing your career anywhere else. I think we’re both happy we’re locked up here for a while.”
“It was not even a thought to think about continuing your career anywhere else. I think we’re both happy we’re locked up here for a while.”
Having your two cornerstone players locked up on salary-cap friendly deals is something that will hopefully continue the good times flowing for the Blackhawks. There is no thought about losing one or the other, and GM Stan Bowman can continue to build around the two.
Toews and Kane have brought so much happiness to hockey fans in Chicago, and with their deals, there will be much more to come.
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