NHL: Chicago Blackhawks match San Jose Sharks offer for Niklas Hjalmarsson
The 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks have decided to match the offer sheet tendered last week by the San Jose Sharks for restricted free agent defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.
The offer came in on Friday and was worth $14 million over four years. The Blackhawks had seven days to match the offer or risked losing Hjalmarsson to the Sharks. If he had left, the Hawks would have received some extra room in their salary cap, and also a first and third round draft pick in next year’s draft.
The Swedish defenseman first got drafted by the Blackhawks in 2005. He played his first season with the team in 2007 and managed to get one assist in 13 games.
Hjalmarsson played 77 games for the Hawks during the 2009-2010 regular season. He helped the team by scoring 2 goals and getting 15 assist. He also played in the playoffs that season, scoring 1 goal and 7 assist. Niklas Hjalmarsson and the Chicago Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Chicago Blackhawks are having some salary cap issues this off-season and are in danger of losing some of their star players due to the financial situation. Niklas Hjalmarsson is another name that almost said goodbye to Chicago. The Hawks had until July 16, 2010 to match the Sharks’ offer.