The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to a two-year contract extension with forward Daniel Carcillo, who underwent knee surgery in January.

"I'm excited," Carcillo said Monday. "It was obviously my goal to have a great year here. That really didn't pan out with the injury. It was kind of out my control. I'm the happiest guy in Chicago to hear I'm coming back for another two years."

The average salary of the contract is $825,000 per season, a source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. The Blackhawks didn't announce the financial terms of the deal.

The Blackhawks acquired Carcillo to add toughness this season, but the results were mixed. He was suspended twice, including once for the hit he made while injuring his knee on Jan. 2. He also was suspended for an incident in last year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

"He has a purpose behind the way he plays and he had a tough couple of suspensions he can learn from as well, but at the end of the day he gives us a lot of depth in an area we can use," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Carcillo said the Hawks approached him recently indicating they wanted him to return. The negotiations took a "day or two." Management simply didn't want to replace something they already had.

"He's the type of player that we need," Blackhawks assistant general manager Marc Bergevin said. "Since he's been hurt we've been lacking that presence. He's a great fit with our team. If you let him go you're looking to replace a guy like that. So once you have him, may as well keep him.

"At the deadline you could hear playoff teams looking for those types of players. We felt we have him, we know what he's about, we just feel comfortable having him back."

In total, Carcillo was suspended for 11 games this season but showed some skill playing on the Hawks top two lines. The hit that ended his season came against Edmonton's Tom Gilbert near the end boards. Carcillo was called for boarding and kicked out of the game. He fell awkwardly on his left knee, subsequently requiring surgery while being assessed a seven-game suspension for the hit. Gilbert missed time with the Oilers but has returned.

"The way I understood it I used too much force on him," Carcillo said. "That's why I got the seven games. I don't change anything that I do on the ice. Maybe I have to hit a little less hard."

Carcillo signed a one-year, $775,000 free agent deal on July 1, 2011. He had 11 points and 82 penalty minutes in 28 games this season.

Carcillo said he was "surprised" by the timing of the extension and was impressed by the confidence the Hawks are showing in him.

"They showed a sign of faith," he said. "With a guy like me you usually don't get that security and that sort of gesture so it's nice and feels really good."

Carcillo says he's been working out for five to six weeks rehabbing his knee, but there is no timetable for his return to the ice. He's been declared out for the rest of this season.