Blackhawks re-sign Matthew Highmore, Kevin Lankinen to 2-year extensions

The Blackhawks re-signed pending restricted free agents Matthew Highmore and Kevin Lankinen to two-year contract extensions Thursday. Both contracts are two-way deals in the first year and transition into one-way deals in the second.

Highmore, a bottom-six forward, had six points (two goals, four assists) and a 47.68 Corsi-For rating in a career-high 36 NHL games this past season while playing on the fourth line for the Blackhawks. The 24-year-old forward also had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 21 AHL games for the Rockford IceHogs.

Thank you to the @NHLBlackhawks organization! Really excited for another 2 years! https://t.co/hw7Oc3urxd

— Matthew Highmore (@MHighmore15) April 2, 2020

Lankinen, also 24, went 8-10-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 21 games this season before he had season-ending left shoulder surgery March 2. His expected recovery is four-to-five months.

I'm excited to be back with the @NHLBlackhawks for two more years.

I want to thank the Chicago Blackhawks organization and I hope everybody is doing well and staying healthy during these times 🙏 pic.twitter.com/5wmWgeX7nF

— Kevin Lankinen (@KLankinen) April 2, 2020

Contract breakdowns

Highmore

Year 1: $700,000 NHL/$450,000 AHL

Year 2: $700,000 NHL

Lankinen

Year 1: $750,000 NHL/$500,000 AHL

Year 2: $850,000 NHL

Blackhawks pending restricted free agents

Forwards: Drake Caggiula, Alexandre Fortin (AHL), Dominik Kubalik, Jacob Nilsson (AHL), Dylan Strome

Defensemen: Slater Koekkoek, Ian McCoshen (AHL), Joni Tuulola (AHL)

Goaltender: Malcolm Subban