Blackhawks GM Bowman isn't worried about the exorbitant cost of extensions for Kane, Toews
The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to extend star forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane this summer, ideally on July 1, the first day they become eligible for extensions.
It's been reported that the initial ask by Kane and Toews' camp - both players are represented by Pat Brisson of Creative Artists Agency - was around $12 million each. Will they become the first players in the salary cap era to sign a deal with an averaged annual salary (or cap-hit) above $10 million?
It's a fascinating question, but not one that Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is too worried about.
"We're not looking at the number or whether it's above or below a certain point," Bowman told reporters at the Draft on Saturday, per Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago. "We're just looking to continue to have two of the best players in the world on our team. I think that's the one thing you can't lose sight of.
"I look at it as an incredible thing. We got these two great players who are going to be in Chicago. Regardless of what the [salary] number is, there's 29 other teams that would be happy to be in our spot where they've got two star players. They've accomplished a lot already, and they're in their mid-20s. It's a great position. We're fortunate more than anything to have both of them on our team."
Bowman also re-emphasized his belief that extensions for Kane and Toews would be agreed to and signed shortly. The wily Blackhawks general manager clearly expects the announcement to be made in concert:
"Yeah, the timing I think is important," Bowman said. "They've talked about that. They've been teammates since they came into the league together. They were drafted a year apart, but they came in together. Everything has sort of been in tandem ever since they started their first game together. I think it would only be fitting to get the contracts finished and announced at the same time."
So the deals will probably be announced simultaneously, but will the dollar amounts of Toews and Kane's next contracts be identical too?