Blackhawks agree to extensions with F Highmore, G Lankinen

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to two-year contract extensions with forward Matthew Highmore and goaltender Kevin Lankinen.

The first year of each extension is a two-way deal. Highmore’s agreement has an average annual value of $725,000, and Lankinen’s extension carries an average annual value of $800,000.

The Blackhawks also announced Thursday that forwards Evan Barratt and Andrei Altybarmakyan had agreed to entry-level contracts. Barratt’s three-year deal runs through the 2022-23 season with an average annual value of $870,000, and Altybarmakyan’s two-year contract carries an average annual value of $817,500 and runs through the 2021-22 season.

The 24-year-old Highmore has turned into a reliable depth forward for Chicago. He has two goals and four assists in a career-high 36 games this season.

Lankinen is still looking for his NHL debut, but he could compete for the backup role with the Blackhawks next season. He is 8-10-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage this season with Rockford of the AHL.

Lankinen, who turns 25 on April 28, helped lead Finland to gold at the 2019 world championship, going 7-1-0 with a 1.50 GAA during the tournament.

Barratt, 21, was selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2017 draft. He had 12 goals during his junior season at Penn State.

Altybarmakyan, another third-round pick from the 2017 draft, spent this season with HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League and HK Tambov of the VHL.

The last-place Blackhawks haven’t played any games since their 6-2 win over San Jose on March 11. The NHL has suspended its season because of the coronavirus pandemic.