Blackhawks Sign Ray Emery To One-Year Extension

During the first period of Saturday’s game in Detroit, the Blackhawks announced a one-year contract extension for backup goalie Ray Emery. Various sources have reported the dollar amount on the contract to be $1.15M.

In 34 appearances in 2011-12, Emery has a 15-9-4 record. He has posted a .900 save percentage and a 2.81 goals against average this year.

What does this mean for the Hawks?

The deal indicates that the organization is not comfortable with the performance of Alexander Salak, which may lead to him either being dealt out of the organization this summer or heading back to Europe this summer.

Salak was injured for a big part of this season, but Carter Hutton took the top spot on Rockford’s depth chart away from him with solid play and earned a contract with the organization.

The longer-term implications of the deal are that the Hawks younger prospects appear to have a good chance of seeing ice time at the United Center in the near future. Johan Mattson, Kent Simpson and Mac Carruth, all selections from the last two NHL Drafts, each had a solid season in juniors this year.