Former Blackhawk Artemi Panarin May Be Homesick

Recently, news broke that former Blackhawk, Artemi Panarin, told the Columbus Blue Jackets that he is not ready to consider an extension "at this time". The Blue Jackets have been reportedly testing the market and trying to gauge Panarin's current trade value.

There is word today that Artemi Panarin has told CLB that he is not ready to consider an extension “at this time.” (UFA July 2019.) As a result, the Blue Jackets are testing the market for him.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 19, 2018

Panarin is currently in a contract year and the Blue Jackets also have two more huge names that are in contract years as well, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Zach Werenski. I am pretty sure nobody is envious of the position that Blue Jackets' management has gotten themselves into.

Artemi Panarin (UFA), Sergei Bobrovsky (UFA) and Zach Werenski (RFA) are all up for new contracts next summer. Good luck with that, Jarmo.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 19, 2018

Artemi Panarin Reunion Highly Unlikely

After the way the 2017-18 season ended for the Blackhawks, I am sure most fans are pissed at Stan Bowman. They have good reason to be. Bowman started off this past season with a blockbuster deal and another failed reunion tour.

TRADE:

To #Blackhawks: F Brandon Saad G Anton Forsberg 2018 5th RD pick To #BlueJackets: F Artemi Panarin F Tyler Motte 2017 6th RD pick — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 23, 2017

I hated the trade back then and I still hate the trade now. Although, I can see why the deal was made. It was all about contract control and managing the Blackhawks' cap space. Bowman anticipated a hefty payday for Artemi Panarin and he was right. He did not want to hand it out, so the Blackhawks got something in return rather than losing Panarin for nothing. You already know that Panarin will be looking to be compensated handsomely in his next contract and deservedly so. I would easily put him in the $8-10 million AAV range. There is no way in hell that the Blackhawks can afford another huge, long-term contract. I also think it isn't wise to mortgage the future by making a deal for a 1-year rental, even though it would be a great rental. Plus, they already have Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane with a $10.5 million cap hit for 5 more years. Duncan Keith has a $5.538 cap hit for 5 more years. Brent Seabrook has a $6.875 million cap hit for 6 more years. Corey Crawford is owed $6 million for 2 more seasons and nobody knows if the guy can even play hockey anymore. Brandon Saad will also earn $6 million for the next 3 years. Then, there is also $5.275 million dollars worth of dead money from Marian Hossa's contract that is still on the books for the next 3 seasons.

Where There's A Will, There's A Way

I love Artemi Panarin and I firmly believe it would be a mistake to bring him back to Chicago. However, what fun would it be if I did not play a little Devil's Advocate and explore what it would take to bring Panarin back home? Let's get our hands dirty with a little help from Cap Friendly. Step 1: I set the 2018-19 salary cap at the projected amount of $80 million.

NHL salary cap narrowed to between $79-80 million. MORE: https://t.co/QwvgvD7pi3 pic.twitter.com/3GJVAf5P70

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 20, 2018

Step 2: Trade Hossa's contract to a team looking to meet the NHL salary cap floor. I traded Hossa's contract to the Arizona Coyotes. This trade frees up $5.275 million in cap space for the Blackhawks. In Hossa's $5.275 million cap hit, only $1 million is actual salary.

Josh is reporting that the Coyotes are just looking to get to the cap floor. Stan Bowman has a $5.275M cap hit that costs just $1M of actual money burning a Greek God-shaped hole in his pocket... https://t.co/bF9y0ujxZ7

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 19, 2018

After moving Hossa, we are left with $15,000,705 in cap space. Step 3: Re-sign Anthony Duclair. I decided to give Duclair a 2-year deal worth $1.5 million per year. This is the same contract that Vinnie Hinostroza recently signed with the Blackhawks. We are still in good shape. There is $13,500,705 left to work with. Step 4: Trade for Artemi Panarin. My trade included Artem Anisimov, Anthony Duclair, 2018 1st Round Pick (8th overall), 2018 3rd Round Pick, and 2019 2nd Round Pick. In return, I received Panarin and the Blue Jackets' 2019 3rd Round Pick. This trade actually frees up $50,000 in cap space for the Blackhawks which leaves them with $13,550,705. Now, this may not be enough in your eyes and the Blue Jackets may also ask for Brandon Saad back, but I feel like this trade proposal would be a good starting point. Keep in mind, this whole Panarin reunion scenario is merely just a pipedream at this time. Step 5: Fill out the rest of the Blackhawks' 2018-19 roster. I signed some much needed defensive help in Ian Cole. Cole is signed to a 1-year deal worth $2.5 million. Also on the defensive end, Henri Jokiharju made the NHL roster which has a real shot of happening. I recently wrote an article on the young, talented Finnish defenseman who can really contribute to the Power Play and on the offensive end of the ice. I also called up a few players from the Rockford IceHogs. Collin Delia will fill the backup goalie spot, Victor Ejdsell will be paired with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Sikura, while David Kampf will provide roster depth on offense. I signed 2 players to fill out the final roster spots. I ended up signing James van Riemsdyk to a 6-year deal worth $5.5 million per season. Van Riemsdyk will bring a veteran presence and a solid power forward game to the team. I put him on the 1st line with Toews and Saad which should improve his defensive numbers. Tommy Wingels is back on a 1-year deal worth $750,000 to add some more grit to the team. I penciled him in on the 4th line. After all of my trades and roster moves, the Blackhawks have $2,924,455 in cap space left over. This is what my final roster looks like. Although highly unlikely, an Artemi Panarin reunion is possible. Personally, I would not want it to happen. The Blackhawks would have to mortgage their future in order to make it happen though. Stan Bowman is currently on the hot seat and may be crazy enough to make a deal for Panarin happen. Blackhawks' fans, make sure to keep a tv, laptop, phone, or tablet near you at all times this week. I have the feeling something big is going down either via trade, the NHL draft, or free agency.