Last Thursday Chicago Blackhawks Defenceman Brent Sopel, 31, was rewarded with a $7 million 3 year contract extension. He will be making $2.5 million USD for the first two years and $2 million in the third.

“Brent has been a key addition……because of his play on the ice and his leadership in the locker room,” Dale Tallon, the Blackhawks general manager said. “He has been a real steady influence on our young defenceman.”

“His composure and his willingness to help the young guys – that’s been real important,” Tallon said. “He likes the direction we’re headed in.”

In the 33 games this season with Chicago, Sopel has 10 assists and a plus-10 rating.

Over Sopel’s nine year NHL career he has totaled 39 goals and 191 points in 467 games.