excitablehonky:

Chris Kuc:

The Blackhawks are set to sign young stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to contract extensions, a source close to the organization confirmed Monday.

The announcement of the signing of the forwards, both restricted free agents after the season, is expected in the next day or two before the team leaves for a 10-day, six-game trip beginning Thursday night in Calgary.

In addition, the Hawks are said to be near an agreement with defenseman Duncan Keith, and the team could announce all three signings as early as Tuesday.

That’s one helluva pleasant piece of news to start my day with—if it all works out that easy. Puck Daddy cautions that Keith remains the biggest question mark until there’s more specifics:

But as agent Pat Brisson closes in on deals for Frodo and Samwise, it becomes the Duncan Keith Show. Talks with GM Stan Bowman and Keith’s agent started before the season, and it’ll be interesting to see how those dynamics change once Kane and Toews sign.

As Jessie Rogers pointed out on ESPN Chicago, Keith’s in a different position than the other two since he’ll be unrestricted in Summer 2011. Does that give him extra leverage with Chicago? Does that make him more or less appealing to an offer sheet as an RFA?

We’ve been told on numerous occasions by hockey smarties that Keith is the best defenseman on the Chicago roster (leading in TOI at 26:35 and shorthanded TOI 3:37) and, because of that, should take priority over Toews and Kane. But that’s the hockey argument; getting the forwards signed is the PR argument, and image has been everything for the Blackhawks during their resurgence — so 20 Cent and Captain Marvel get done first.

Keith? Like Red Light District opined, we’re still not entirely convinced they can keep him, considering the salary cap constraints. It’s hard to find anyone on or off the record willing to predict they can retain Kane, Toews and Keith without moving a significant salary. But we’ll all have a better picture of this if and when Kane and Toews make bank.

Getting Toews, Kane and Keith will obviously a good thing, but I’m worried about at what cost to the roster. I know with Kane’s current eight-game scoring streak it’s hard to say to let him go — especially after the charges for his off-ice incident were all but dropped — but the Hawks are at the top of the Central Division and Marian Hossa hasn’t even hit the ice yet.

With Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Adam Burish, John Madden, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Antti Niemi and Colin Fraser also due new contracts, it’ll be a tall order to keep even a couple of them. But with Madden’s age I doubt he’ll be back. Niemi will need to be re-signed lest the Hawks think they can rely on Corey Crawford next season. Burish is a fan favorite and a key guy in the locker room. And Scotty Bowman has said that Niklas Hjalmarsson will develop into one of the best D-men in the league and reminds him of Nicklas Lidstrom.

Quite the predicament, indeed.