CHICAGO (AP) -Brian Campbell is bringing some defense to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Campbell, the top free-agent defenseman available Tuesday at the start of the open market season, signed an eight-year deal with the Blackhawks – a young team that already features young star forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
In addition to Campbell, the Blackhawks also signed goalie Cristobal Huet to a four-year deal Tuesday.
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 as they try to get back into contender status after missing the playoffs nine times in the last 10 seasons.
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 rookie forwards Kane and Toews. Kane, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, was named NHL rookie of the year last month.
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, scoring 24 points – including 10 goals.
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