Wyatt Kaiser signed a two-year, $3.4 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $1.7 million.
The 23-year-old defenseman was a restricted free agent and said negotiations never got contentious.
"I tried to really separate it in business," Kaiser said Thursday. "We both wanted the same goal. They wanted me to play for the Blackhawks. I wanted to play for the Blackhawks. It was just on the business side where they're trying to do their job and we're trying to do our job. It was like you win in overtime a little bit. You wanted to finish the game in the third period, but, hey, we went to overtime and got it done.
"It was important to me, especially with [new Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill], the culture he's trying to trying to implement and focusing on those little details. It was really important for me to be here first day and battle through it with the guys."
Kaiser had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 57 games last season, his third in the NHL, and was third on the Blackhawks with 93 blocked shots.
"Got it done and got a young player back on the ice, not missing any time, so happy to have Wyatt under contract," general manager Kyle Davidson said. "I think he’s going to be a big part of our team this year and looking forward to seeing him continue to establish himself in the NHL and grow his game."
Selected by Chicago in the third round (No. 81) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Kaiser has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 98 NHL games, all with the Blackhawks.
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
