Silvertips’ Simpson signs 3-year deal with Blackhawks

It came down to the final week, but Kent Simpson and the Chicago Blackhawks got the deal done.

Simpson, the Everett Silvertips goaltender, secured his professional future when he signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, the Blackhawks announced Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It feels good, obviously,” Simpson said about signing. “It’s something I’ve been wanting ever since I was drafted, so it’s good.”

Simpson, who’s spent the past four seasons with Everett, was selected in the second round (58th overall) by Chicago in the 2010 NHL draft. In the 2009-10 season, he split Everett’s goaltending duties with Thomas Heemskerk, then served as the Tips’ outright No. 1 each of the past two seasons.

Last season, he went 20-31-2-5 with a 3.33 goals against average and .909 save percentage, and his performances during the final two months of the season played a major role in Everett rallying to gain a playoff spot.

Negotiations between Simpson and the Blackhawks went down to the wire. The deadline for NHL teams to sign 2010 draft picks from the Canadian Hockey League is Friday. Had Simpson and the Blackhawks not reached an agreement, he would have gone back into the draft pool.

However, Simpson was never concerned about the process.

“I wasn’t too nervous,” Simpson said. “Every time I talked to them was positive. I wasn’t doubting myself.”

By signing the deal,the chances are Simpson won’t be returning to Everett. The 20-year-old is eligible to play professionally in the minor leagues next season. Most signed 20-year-olds are not returned to juniors, and the Tips have stated publicly in the past that they expect Simpson to play in the pros next season.

“Obviously I hope to be playing at the AHL level,” Simpson said. “That’s the top level for me next year. Now I have to go out and have a good summer so I give myself the best chance at camp.”

Simpson already has made his professional debut. He signed an amateur tryout contract with the the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s American Hockey League affiliate, after Everett’s season ended. He appeared in one game for the IceHogs, stopping 38 of the 41 shots he faced in a shootout loss to Charlotte on April 14.

“I came in at the end of the year, and nothing was really on the line, but it went really well for me,” Simpson said. “We didn’t win, but it was a good effort by the team and they made me feel comfortable, and I thought I played well myself.”

That taste of pro hockey should ease Simpson’s transition into next season.

“Getting into a game was nice, and it definitely made me feel better about everything, but the best part was getting the day-to-day experience of pro life,” Simpson said. “I was really able to take it in and figure out what I need to work on over the summer.”

Bittner headed home

Silvertips defenseman Dominik Bittner has signed a two-year contract with Adler Mannheim of the German elite league, according Adler Mannheim’s website. The 19-year-old Bittner was a rookie for the Tips last season after being selected in the first round (51st overall) in last year’s CHL import draft. He appeared in 68 games, notching four goals and 13 assists.

Bittner’s signing with Adler Mannheim means he will not be returning to Everett next season as an overager. Bittner always was an unlikely candidate to fill one of Everett’s three overage roster spots next season, as he would have counted against both the overeager limit and the European player limit. WHL teams are allowed two European players.

With Bittner out of the mix, Everett has no European players left on its roster. Therefore, the Tips are more likely to make two selections during this year’s import draft, which takes place June 27. And with Bittner and Simpson likely out of contention for Everett’s overage spots, that leaves forwards Ryan Harrison, Cody Fowlie and JT Barnett as the current options.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.