RELEASE: Hakkarainen and Soderlund sign three-year deals

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have agreed to terms with forwards Mikael Hakkarainen (MIGH-kuhl hock-uh-RIGH-nuhn) and Tim Soderlund (SOH-duhr-luhnd) on three-year contracts that each run through the 2021-22 season ($925,000/AAV).
Drafted by Chicago in the fifth round (139th overall) of the 2018 National Hockey League Draft, Hakkarainen recorded 47 points (19G, 28A) in 42 regular-season games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League during the 2018-19 campaign. The Helsinki, Finland native shared a team-high nine points (4G, 5A) in eight playoff contests with the Lumberjacks. He also appeared in one game with Providence College during the 2018-19 season. Over three seasons (2016-19) with Muskegon and the Chicago Steel, the 21-year-old forward has 111 points (43G, 68A) in 126 USHL regular-season games and 10 points (4G, 6A) in 13 postseason games.

Soderlund, 21, was drafted by the Blackhawks in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. During the 2018-19 season, he split time between Frölunda HC and Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League, recording five points (3G, 2A) in 26 games with Frölunda HC and nine points (3G, 6A) in 22 games with Skellefteå AIK. He also appeared in six postseason games with Skellefteå, but did not record a point. In 138 career regular-season SHL games over four seasons (2015-19) with Skellefteå AIK and Frölunda HC, Soderlund tallied 35 points (18G, 17A) and four goals in 23 playoff contests.
A Skellefteå, Sweden native, Soderlund skated for Team Sweden in the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2018 and 2017. He scored two goals and had three assists in five games in the 2018 tournament and two goals and one assist in the 2017 tournament. Soderlund also appeared in seven games with Team Sweden in the 2016 IIHF World Junior U18 Championships, recording one goal and two assists.