WKBW Sports

Campbell Cashes In

By WKBW Sports

Campbell Cashes In

July 9, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 2:44 PM EST

CHICAGO (AP) - Brian Campbell is bringing some defense to the
Chicago Blackhawks.
Campbell, the top free-agent defenseman available Tuesday as the
free agent market opened, signed an eight-year deal with the
Blackhawks - a young team that already features rising star
forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
The Blackhawks also signed free agent goalie Cristobal Huet to a
four-year deal Tuesday.
Campbell's deal is reportedly worth $7.14 million annually with
the total of $57.12 million the richest in team history. Huet will
make $5.626 million annually.
"We decided we'd try to make an impact today to give our fans
something to get excited about," general manager Dale Tallon said.
"When you do that, you're going to overpay, but now we have the
resources and the ability to do that."
Campbell, who spent most of his first eight seasons with the
Buffalo Sabres before being dealt to the San Jose Sharks at last
season's trade deadline, has 35 goals and 160 assists in 411
regular-season NHL games.
After two seasons with the Kings, Huet went to Montreal for most
of three years before being traded to the Washington Capitals late
last season. He has a career 83-61-11 record with a 2.43
goals-against average.
They are major moves for the Blackhawks, who are trying to
become a playoff regular after missing the postseason nine times in
the last 10 seasons.
"Our No. 1 priority was to solidify goal and defense and then
move forward," Tallon said.
Campbell is expected to help boost a power play that ranked 24th
in the league last season. He scored five power-play goals last
season.
"He can move the puck, skate up ice and get you out of
trouble," Tallon said. "The power play, at the point, is what he
does best."
Chicago finished at 40-34-8 and 88 points, three behind
Nashville and the final playoff spot in the Western Conference last
season. The Blackhawks were led by Kane and Toews. Kane, the No. 1
overall pick in 2007, won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
The Blackhawks also announced they had acquired a future
second-round draft pick from the Calgary Flames for the rights to
restricted free agent forward Rene Bourque. Bourque played in 62
games with Chicago last season, getting 24 points - including 10
goals.

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