Chicago Blackhawks lock down top defensemen with near $30M signing

The Blackhawks have signed defenseman Alex Vlasic to a six-year extension with a $4.6 million cap hit, as reported by The Athletic's Scott Powers on Thursday. This deal, which totals $27.6 million, will make Vlasic an unrestricted free agent in 2030. The team later confirmed the details of the deal.

According to PuckPedia, Alex Vlasic has a 10-team no-trade list for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons, which are the two seasons where he could become an unrestricted free agent. Here's a breakdown of his contract:

2024-25: $1.5 million base salary plus a $4.5 million signing bonus
2025-26: $1.8 million base salary plus a $4 million signing bonus
2026-27: $4.3 million base salary
2027-28: $1.3 million base salary plus a $3 million signing bonus
2028-29: $1.6 million base salary plus a $2 million signing bonus
2029-30: $1.6 million base salary plus a $2 million signing bonus




Vlasic, who will turn 23 in June, was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2019 draft, following Kirby Dach, who was the third overall pick.

He earned a spot on the opening night roster this season and played consistently well. Vlasic even took on a number-one role at times when Seth Jones was injured, ranking second in average time on ice with 21 minutes and 29 seconds.

By signing Vlasic to a long-term contract early on, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson continues the team's trend of making early commitments to developing defensemen.

Vlasic now joins Jones as the only Blackhawks players signed beyond the 2026 season. Their contracts will expire together after the 2029-30 season. Before this announcement, Jones and veteran Connor Murphy were the only Chicago defenders with one-way contracts for the upcoming season.

Vlasic and Jones are expected to continue as the top defensive pairing for the Blackhawks in the 2024-25 season.