Oliver Moore has his extension. Elliotte Friedman reported the Blackhawks are locking him up for five years at $4.25 million a season.
Friedman added a line most insiders leave out. He's going to be a long-time member of the NHL's All-Interview team.
That's not a throwaway. Reporters don't hand that out unless a player actually gives them something.
The term comes to $21.25 million across the five years.
Chicago got it done before the season started, which is when a deal like this costs the least.
Kyle Davidson has run that front office since October 2021. This is what a rebuild looks like when it starts turning.
Jeff Blashill took the bench job in May 2025 and now coaches a player signed through the middle of the next decade.
-
Oliver Moore signs five-year, $21.25 million extension with Blackhawks
Columbus is stuck on exactly this kind of deal right now. Adam Fantilli still isn't in camp.
Pierre LeBrun reported Fantilli would rather do four years, maybe five, while the Blue Jackets opened hoping for seven.
Chris Johnston had that club in the 12 million dollar range on their side of the talks.
Two years apart on term, and a player sitting at home over it.
Anaheim has been busy in the same window. Cutter Gauthier signed for six years and Tim Washe took four.
Pat Verbeek and Davidson both got their business done. Don Waddell is still waiting on his.
Chicago beat Minnesota 4-3 in overtime on Monday and visits St. Louis tonight.
The Blackhawks are 1-0-1 through the exhibition schedule.
They open the regular season on September 29 in Las Vegas.
Moore now has cost certainty attached to him for half a decade.
That matters more in Chicago than almost anywhere else, because that roster is still being assembled around names like his.
So why sign now instead of later? Paying a young player early works like buying a ticket before the flight fills up. You never know exactly what you saved, and you know you saved something.
Davidson made his call with four days left before anything counts. Waddell still has a centre who hasn't put on skates.
Is five years at $4.25 million a good bet on Oliver Moore?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Huge Maple Leafs fight ends with huge one-punch knockdown
