The New York Rangers signed two of their young defencemen to contract extensions today as did the Chicago Blackhawks just tonight with one of theirs.

First, for New York, being 23-year old Dan Girardi, who agreed to a 2-year deal paying him $1.55 million per season.
Girardi, a native of Welland, Ontario has 8 goals and 22 points in 60 games for the Rags this year and is a regular on their second unit powerplay.

The knock on Girardi appears to be in his own end, although he only boasts 14 penalty minutes this season, he’s still a -6, pretty indicative of where he needs to improve.
He also needs to make better use of his size.
6′1 and 205 pounds + speed and offensive upside can make him a decent potential number 4 d-man one day.

The other being the Russian, Fedor Tyutin, who is 24 years old and looks to be the next big and dependable Rangers linebacker.
Tyutin, meanwhile, signed off on a 4-year deal worth just over $2.8 million per season.
He’s got overall all the talent to succeed, and his current middle of the pack offensive numbers (this year, only 14 points) shouldn’t be an indication of where he might end up.
I like the punch he has and should be a mainstay for Glen Sather, and there’s a reason he was a second round pick back in 2001.

Overall, two good moves by New York, these are the kind of bottom of the pairing guys each team would love to have.

Now onto the south side, in Chicago, Dale Tallon was busy as well and he kept young Brent Seabrook in the fold with $10.5 million over 3 seasons, per TSN.

What to say about Seabrook?

He’s awesome, that’s all you need to know.

-BBeR