BREAKING: Chicago Blackhawks Complete 8-Million Dollar Plus Signing

At 8:31 a.m., news broke that the Blackhawks are extending the contract of their starting goalie Petr Mrázek for two more years, as reported by Scott Powers from The Athletic. The first to break the news was Kevin Weekes of ESPN, mentioning that the deal is expected to be a little over $8 million, later clarified by Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli to have a total value of $8.5 million and an annual average value of $4.25 million.

Mrázek, who is 31 years old, is having a good season with the Blackhawks after being acquired from the Maple Leafs in a trade during the 2022 draft. His time with the Maple Leafs was marred by injuries and poor performance, making him available to the Blackhawks.

Last season, Mrázek showed some improvement, but this season has seen a significant turnaround. With better health and improved stats, Mrázek is proving to be a valuable player for the team.

Despite his injury history, the Blackhawks, under the leadership of GM Kyle Davidson, aim to build around star rookie Connor Bedard. This multi-year deal for Mrázek aligns with the team's goal of supporting their young core.

If Mrázek continues his good performance in the upcoming seasons, the deal will be a smart move for the Blackhawks. It also takes him off the market ahead of the trade deadline, saving Davidson from pursuing another goalie in free agency.

With Mrázek's extension, the Blackhawks' projected cap hit for the next season is just above $48.25 million, leaving room for additional roster adjustments to meet the 2024-25 Lower Limit.