RELEASE: Blackhawks Sign Suter, Kalynuk; Finalize Mitchell Contract

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have finalized terms with Ian Mitchell on a three-year contract that runs through the 2022-23 season ($925,000 salary cap hit). The club also agreed to terms with forward Pius Suter (PEE-uhs SOO-tuhr) on a one-year contract that runs through the 2020-21 season ($925,000 salary cap hit) and a two-year contract with Wyatt Kalynuk (KAL-nihk) that runs through the 2021-22 season ($925,000 salary cap hit).

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**THREE THINGS**: Get to Know Wyatt Kalynuk

**THREE THINGS**: Get to Know Pius Suter

**FEATURE**: Ian Mitchell a 'Special Player'

Drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round (57th overall) of the 2017 National Hockey League Draft, Mitchell recently completed his junior season at the University of Denver where he was named First-Team All-American and First-Team All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Mitchell captained the Pioneers during the 2019-20 campaign, finishing the regular season sharing sixth among NCAA defensemen with 32 points (10G, 22A). His 10 goals shared first among NCHC blueliners, while he also paced conference defensemen in shorthanded goals (2), game-winning goals (3) and shots on goal (100). He was named a finalist for NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year.

A native of Calahoo, Alberta, Mitchell helped Team Canada win the 2019 Spengler Cup, tallying one goal and two assists in four games during the tournament.

Spanning three seasons (2017-2020) with the Pioneers, Mitchell registered 89 points (18G, 71A) in 116 games. He was named Second-Team All-NCHC after the 2018-19 season where he led Denver defensemen with 27 points (6G, 21A) and 66 blocked shots. He also served as the alternate captain for the Pioneers that season. He appeared in all 41 games during his freshman season, posting the second-most points among NCAA freshman blueliners (30) and ranking second in the nation with 19 power-play assists. He was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team.

Mitchell, 21, has represented his country at several international events, including at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship where he was an alternate captain and notched three points (1G, 2A) in five games. He also skated for Canada at the 2015 Canada Winter games, the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.

Suter, 24, skated for ZSC Lions of Switzerland's National League-A last season where he recorded a league-best and career-high 53 points (30G, 23A) in 50 contests en route to earning the league's Most Valuable Player award. His 30 goals were also a career high and paced all NLA skaters. Over parts of five seasons (2015-20) with ZSC Lions, Suter tallied 168 points (81G, 87A) in 210 regular-season contests, 18 points (9G, 9A) in 34 playoff games and helped ZSC Lions to the 2017-18 NLA Championship.

Prior to his time with ZSC Lions, Suter spent two seasons (2013-15) with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, recording 96 points (52G, 44A) in 127 regular-season games and skated in 29 playoff contests, notching nine goals and four assists. Additionally, Suter played in one regular-season contest and six playoff games with GCK Lions U20 of the U20-Elit League and one game with GC Kusnacht Lions of the National League-B league during the 2015-16 season.

A native of Zurich, Switzerland, Suter skated for his country in the 2018 Olympic Games, notching five points (3G, 2A) in four games. He also skated in eight contests in the 2016 IIHF World Championship, recording one goal and two assists and in six games in the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, netting two markers for Team Switzerland.

Kalynuk, 23, served as team captain of the Wisconsin Badgers last year and recorded a career-high 28 points (7G, 21A) in 36 contests during his junior season. The defenseman earned All-Big Ten Conference honors for the first time in his collegiate career last season, finishing second among all Big Ten blueliners in points (28) and tied for second in goals (7).

Kalynuk was named the Spike Carlson/Chris Chelios Most Valuable Player and to the All-Big Ten Second Team on defense during his sophomore season after notching 25 points (9G, 16A) in 37 games. As a freshman, he was selected to the All-Big Ten Freshmen Team and the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team after compiling 25 points (3G, 22A) in 37 contests. Overall, the Virden, Manitoba native recorded 78 points (19G, 59A) in 110 appearances with Wisconsin.

Originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the seventh round (196th overall) of the 2017 National Hockey League Draft, Kalynuk spent three seasons in the USHL with the Bloomington Thunder and Lincoln Stars. He skated in 119 games with Bloomington from 2015-17, tallying 55 points (9G, 46A) and appeared in 55 contests with Lincoln during the 2014-15 campaign, recording 15 assists.