The Blackhawks agreed to terms on entry-level contracts with forward prospects Andrei Altybarmakyan and Evan Barratt on Thursday.
Barratt’s contract is for three years and carries an $870,000 annual salary cap hit, while Altybarmkyan has a two-year deal worth $817,500 per season.
Both players were selected in the third round of the 2017 NHL draft, with Altybarmakyan at No. 70 overall and Barratt at No. 90. Blackhawks acquired the pick for Altybarmakyan from Dallas the day of the draft when Chicago moved back three spots in the first round (Henri Jokiharju) and netted the pick in exchange. Chicago received the pick to draft Barratt from the April 2017 deal with Carolina for Scott Darling.
Altybarmakyan, a right wing, scored career highs in goals (six), assists (11) and points (17) in 49 KHL games this past season for HK Sochi. His 17 points ranked fifth among under-22 players in the KHL.
Altybarmakyan is the first Russian player Chicago has drafted to sign a NHL contract with the team since right wing Igor Makarov, who was selected in second round (No. 33) in 2006. Makarov had 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 68 AHL games for the Rockford IceHogs during the 2010-11 season before returned to Russia and never returned to North America.
Altybarmakyan’s contract does not include a European clause, his agent Dan Milstein told Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Barratt, a center, averaged a point per game with 34 points, including a team-high 12 goals, in as many games during his junior season at Penn State. The Blackhawks and Barratt talked about him signing last year, but he opted to return for his junior season after learning he needed hip surgery.
Altybarmakyan and Barratt are both expected to play in the AHL next season.