Bowman: 'Toews & Kane Will Be Here Forever'
(CBS) They've been the face of the franchise since they first arrived in Chicago during the 2007-08 season, and if GM Stan Bowman has his way, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will remain with the team until they retire.
"Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will be here forever," Bowman told the team's website. "I can't predict what the salary cap will be in the near future, but I can tell you that Jonathan and Patrick will be on this team. Those two players put the Blackhawks back on the map, they're up in a couple years, and whatever the numbers are, we'll figure out the details. The notion that the money we're spending now will affect our ability to keep Jonathan and Kane…it's a non-issue. They will be here no matter what."
Both Toews and Kane, who have led the Blackhawks to two Stanley Cup championships in their short careers, have two seasons remaining on their deals.
Bowman also discussed Corey Crawford, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Bryan Bickell, who all signed long-term deals with the team this summer.
"Corey, Niklas, Bryan and a few others on our roster could have made more money elsewhere," Bowman said. "But what you're seeing reflects the culture that Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough have created. Instead of maybe a few extra dollars, players value the way they are treated here, the objectives of the organization and the overall experience of being Blackhawks. Our guys are paid well and fairly, but they want to be part of something bigger than the biggest possible contract."
