The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t qualify Malcolm Subban by this week’s deadline, but won’t be watching the goaltender hit the free agent market after all. Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that Subban is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Blackhawks today. The deal will carry an average annual value “just south” of $900K.
Once again, the Blackhawks have indicated that they expect the trio of Subban, Collin Delia and Kevin Lankinen to compete for both NHL roles in 2020-21. That certainly doesn’t give the team much experience at the position, but Delia and Subban both have flashed the potential to start in the past.
Amazingly, this comes just a year after the Blackhawks started the season with both Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner on the books for a combined $11MM. The team has decided to go the exact opposite route apparently, now spending almost nothing on the position. Delia signed a three-year $3MM deal in Feburary of 2019, meaning he and Subban will total less than $2MM on the cap next season.
Subban, who has a career .899 save percentage in 66 NHL appearances, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this contract.
The Chicago guys at Barstool are going to hate this.