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Blackhawks sign Mike Hardman to 2-year contract extension

The Chicago Blackhawks secured another depth piece for the short-term future on Tuesday morning, signing forward Mike Hardman to a two-year contract extension worth $800,000 annually.

This contract extension will not kick in until the 2022-23 season begins, as Hardman still has one season remaining on the entry-level contract he signed with the Blackhawks back in March after being an undrafted free agent.

Hardman, 22, signed that deal just after completing his sophomore season at Boston College with 10 goals and 9 assists in 24 games. Hardman was skating on BC’s top line along with 2019 first-round picks Alex Newhook (Colorado) and Matthew Boldy (Minnesota), giving the Eagles one of the best lines in college hockey.

He made his NHL debut one month later in a 7-4 Blackhawks’ loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In Hardman’s fifth NHL game, he tallied his first career NHL goal by capitalizing on a rebound:

Overall, Hardman played in eight games with one goal and two assists while averaging 10:59 of ice time. He was credited with 38 hits, but his hit rate of 26.4 per 60 minutes was the second highest among Blackhawks forwards, albeit in a very limited sample size. Still, there was an obvious willingness to engage in physical play, something to be expected from a 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward.

Like the last few seasons, Hardman joins another crowded room of players looking to secure a spot on Chicago’s fourth line which includes Ryan Carpenter, Jujhar Khaira, MacKenzie Entwistle and several more.

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