The Blackhawks handed out their fourth and fifth new contracts of the offseason Tuesday, re-signing veteran forward Zach Sanford and signing prospect forward Martin Misiak.
Sanford will stick around as a depth option after inking a one-year, two-way deal carrying a minimal $775,000 salary-cap hit.
Claimed off waivers from the Coyotes during the Hawks’ mid-winter injury plague, the 29-year-old forward ended up tallying four points (all assists) in 18 games with the Hawks and added another six points in 13 AHL games with Rockford (plus four points in four AHL playoff games).
Sanford and Brett Seney, who was also re-signed to a one-year contract last week, fill similar niches as well-traveled guys whom the Hawks can easily flip between the NHL and AHL based on injuries and such. Before Seney, Alex Vlasic and Lukas Reichel had received the team’s first two new contracts of the offseason.
Misiak, meanwhile, inked a three-year entry-level contract carrying an $878,333 cap hit.
One of the Hawks’ three second-round picks from last year, he tallied 47 points in 60 games in the OHL with the Erie Otters this past season before making his AHL debut at the very end of the season. That completed a whirlwind stretch of bouncing from team to team after leaving his native Slovakia in the middle of 2022-23.
He impressed at the prospect showcase last year, and the Hawks like his speed, competitiveness, size (6-2) and all-around versatility. But he is still rather raw.
He could join Rockford or return to Erie next season, but since he turns 20 in September, he is not eligible for a contract slide if the latter occurs.
