The Blackhawks did not qualify forward David Kampf by the Tuesday’s deadline, but the team is still talking to him about a potential new contract, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Kampf, 24, was a full-time NHL starter last season, with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 63 games. Evolving Hockey has projected he will receive a two-year deal with a $1,169,651 salary cap hit.
Unlike some teams, the Blackhawks do not make it publicly known which players they have qualified.
Forwards Victor Ejdsell, Brendan Perlini, John Quenneville and Dylan Sikura (2014 sixth rounder) were all qualified, according to Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Perlini, who was acquired in a trade from the Coyotes last November, scored 12 goals and 15 points last season in 46 games with Chicago. According to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, Perlini is negotiating a new deal already. Evolving Hockey has projected Perlini to receive a two-year deal with a $2,056,017 cap hit.
Chicago acquired Quenneville — the cousin of former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville — from the Devils last Saturday at the NHL draft in exchange for forward John Hayden. Sikura recorded eight assists in 33 games in two NHL stints this past season. He also had 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 46 AHL games.
Powers notes contract talks have already started for Sikura.
Ejdsell, who signed a two-year contract with Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League. By doing so, the Blackhawks retain his NHL rights even with him playing in Sweden. The 6-foot-5 winger had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 61 AHL games this past season after having one assist in six NHL games in 2018.
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Forwards Luke Johnson (2013 fifth rounder), Anthony Louis (2013 sixth rounder) and Spencer Watson and defenseman Blake Hillman (2016 sixth rounder) were not qualified.
Johnson cracked the NHL lineup this past season and had one assist in 15 games. He racked up 31 points (18 goals, 13 assists) in 53 AHL games for the Rockford IceHogs during his third professional season after leaving the University of North Dakota after his junior season.
Louis led the IceHogs with 44 points in 70 games in the 2017-18 season then had a dip in production with 34 points in 70 games last season. Watson was acquired from the Kings for Matt Iacopelli in February, and had three points in 10 AHL games with Rockford. Hillman burned the first year of his contract in 2018 when he played four NHL games after his junior season at the University of Denver. He had four points in 54 AHL games last season.