Play of 22-year-old Chicago-area product in his first full NHL season was biggest pleasant surprise for 31st place Chicago, despite addition of Connor Bedard. GM Kyle Davidson called Vlasic a "top-four" NHL D-man.

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed 22-year-old defenseman Alex Vlasic to a six-year, $27.6 million contract that runs through the 2029-30 season and has a $4.6 million annual average salary (AAV) and cap hit.

The deal, announced Thursday, quickly locked the 6-foot-6 Wilmette, Illinois native in rebuilding Chicago's defense corps. Vlasic's play in a breakout first full NHL season may have been the biggest pleasant surprise in a mostly rough year for the Blackhawks, who finished at 23-53-6 despite the addition of top 2023 NHL draft pick Connor Bedard.

Vlasic was set to become a restricted free agent after his three-year $4.475 million contract ran out this season. He had signed that bonus-loaded pact in March 2022 after his junior year at Boston University, then played the final 15 games of the 2021-22 NHL season with the Blackhawks.

Vlasic blossomed last season with Chicago after spending most of 2022-23 with Rockford of the AHL to adjust to the pro game.

"I think coming in, I didn't know what to expect of myself," Vlasic said. "I think I kind of exceeded my expectations of what this year was going to look like to for me. I'm very happy with it."

Assertiveness and poise— especially with the puck – set a foundation for Vlasic's big step.

"I just think kind of taking control of the play a little bit, you know having that confidence to do things myself, push it offensively," he added. "I think my defensive game has always been something I'm confident in."

He and Mr. Jones...

Vlasic skated mostly with veteran Seth Jones as his defense partner and was second only to Jones on the Blackhawks with an average of 21:29 minutes of ice time per game. He was just a minus-4 on a 31st place team with a minus-111 goals differential.

“Alex made enormous strides this year and proved he is a legitimate top-four defenseman in the NHL,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “In his first full season in the NHL, Alex established himself as an important piece of our young core, and we’re excited to have him with us for the next six years.”

While other Blackhawks may be set to move on, Vlasic is a keeper Davidson wants to build around. See story:

Vlasic weighed 215 pounds at the end of the season, but still is a bit gangly for his height and frame, even if he's big enough to cover, box out and eliminate opponents. He plans on adding muscle this summer and joked that he has to eat more to add weight.

But Vlasic also is a strong, swift skater with bursts of power. He can carry the puck out of trouble from the D-zone and up the ice. Although he had just two goals and 14 assists in 76 games in 2023-24, it's clear the suburban Chicago product is on the cusp of doing more offensively.

At times Vlasic even led rushes last season and burst-in on breakaways. Coach Luke Richardson joked that Vlasic might lead the NHL in missed breakaway chances.