The Chicago Blackhawks and forward Andrew Desjardins agreed to terms on a two-year contract Friday, the team announced.
Desjardins had more lucrative offers from four other teams but decided to re-sign with the Blackhawks because of his experience last season, his agent Todd Reynolds said.
"Winning, of course, [was important to him]," Reynolds said by phone Friday. "Just fitting in, knowing how he fit there and how they're going to use him, it was a known entity to him. He had offers quite a bit north where that deal was done, but it was the unknown. He also knew their cap situation and knows it is what it is and was willing to buy into it. ... He's exactly where he wants to be."
Desjardins was signed for $800,000 a season, according to a source.
The Blackhawks acquired Desjardins, 28, from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline last season. He had two assists and was a plus-1 in 13 regular-season games; he had one goal and three assists and was a minus-4 in 21 playoff games. Desjardins played a key role on the Blackhawks' checking line during their Stanley Cup run.
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman recently expressed an interest in re-signing Desjardins.
"We'd like to bring him back," Bowman of Desjardins after the season. "Obviously he's a free agent to-be, so it's up to him and his agent on what he wants to do. Hopefully he wants to come back and be a part of this. We're very pleased with his contributions for our group."
