Eric Weinrich had a difficult decision to make.
Should he go after as much money as he could as an unrestricted free agent after this season or play where he was happiest but for perhaps less money?
The Blackhawks defenseman gave his answer Wednesday, signing a long-term contract extension to stay in Chicago. The one-year deal Weinrich signed in August for $1.3 million was reworked and is believed to be worth $1.5 million. He’ll also get three additional years, believed to average a little less than $2 million a season.
“It meant a lot to me that they were willing to give me a long-term contract,” said Weinrich, the Hawks’ No. 2 scoring defenseman last season with seven goals and 25 assists. “I told them all along right from the summer that I wanted to stay in Chicago and be a Blackhawk as long as I can be. I passed up being unrestricted, but it gave me a chance to stay in a place I really love playing.
“When you have teammates like this, it’s really hard to pass up something like that.”
When Weinrich signed the one-year deal in the summer, it was to avoid going to arbitration and with the understanding that his agent, Steve Bartlett, and Hawks General Manager Bob Murray, would continue to work on a multiyear deal. They originally talked about a three-year contract, but Bartlett suggested that since Weinrich was agreeing to forgo testing the free-agent market, maybe a fourth year on the contract would make the difference.
It certainly didn’t hurt.
“To get a four-year deal is more than I ever expected,” said Weinrich, who came to the Hawks with Patrick Poulin from Hartford on Nov. 2, 1993, in a trade that sent Steve Larmer and Bryan Marchment to the Whalers. “Not only does it give me a little security, hopefully I get another four years to be with the Hawks.”
Weinrich understands hockey is still a business and that if a trade comes along and the Hawks need Weinrich to be a part of it to seal the deal . . .
“If I ever end up getting traded some day,” Weinrich said, “I’m never going to have a bad thing to say about the Blackhawk organization. I think it’s tough for anyone to make promises (about not being traded) unless it’s (Tony) Amonte or (Chris) Chelios.
“I’d be the happiest guy in the world if I ended up finishing my career here.”
Being the happiest guy in the Hawks’ dressing room Wednesday still meant a lot. Coach Craig Hartsburg was plenty happy to have his defense solidified too.
“He’s a very important part of this team,” Hartsburg said. “He plays pretty well the same every night for us, very reliable and he has some leadership that we’re going to count on heavily.”
