The New Era of Hockey: Blackhawks Are Good and Contracts are Crazy!

Depth is certainly a key to the Chicago Blackhawks' success, as numerous players can put the puck in the back of the net. Yet with all of Chicago's solid athletes, there is a trio that falls right in the middle of them all.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith can really make the engine run. The Chicago organization seems to understand their importance, as all three players signed long contract extensions today.

Kane and Toews get five year extensions, with each getting more than 6 million dollars a year. Keith ends up with a franchise-record 13-year extension. Yes, 13 years, and he gets 72 million dollars overall.

The team expects to have success for many years to come, and the signing of these three young stars validates that idea. The other thing this does is add to the crazy contracts that NHL players sign today. Chicago's Marian Hossa agreed to a 12-year contract in the offseason.

The salary cap issue definitely comes into play down the road, but for now, the Blackhawks' organization is not worrying about that. New general manager Stan Bowman grew up in a competitive hockey family, with father Scotty Bowman known to be one of the greatest head coaches of all time. The older Bowman built a dynasty in Detroit, and Stan is hoping the same thing happens here. I guess Scotty does too, now that he is in Chicago's front office.

Keith starts the offense from the back end, and then Kane and Toews can finish the job in the opponent's zone. The funny thing about Kane and Toews is how they will always be linked together. They are both 21-years old, they now have the same contract extensions, and they have always been the two symbols of the Hawks' resurgence.

As for Keith, the 26-year old is slowly creeping up to Kane and Toews' level of star status. Keith is one of the best, and most active, defenseman in the game today.

The Blackhawks are tied with Calgary for second place in the Western Conference, and they beat the Flames 7 to 1 on their recent road trip. Hockey is back in Chicago, and the league understands that.

Can the Hawks keep the consistency going? Chicago's theme the last two years has been "One Goal". Kane, Toews and Keith certainly will go a long way in determining whether the Hawks will bring the Stanley Cup to Chicago.