Blackhawks agree to one year deal with Richard Panik

Apr 15, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Richard Panik (14) skates with the puck during game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks won the game 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

The Blackhawks have agreed to terms with restricted free agent Richard Panik on a one year deal.

Just hours after trading Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for two draft picks, the Chicago Blackhawks’ offseason is officially underway. With their new found cap space thanks to Bickell’s departure, the Blackhawks have begun re-signing their restricted free agents. They have agreed to a one year deal with pending restricted free agent forward Richard Panik.

Financial terms of the deal have yet to be announced, but Panik is an important depth forward for the Blackhawks. He even spent some time on their first forward line while Marian Hossa was injured. With the departure of Teravainen, Panik will likely see an increase in his role.

From Blackhawks.com:

"Panik, 25, appeared in 30 games with the Blackhawks last season, recording six goals and eight points after joining the team via trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 3. During the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he tallied three assists in six games for Chicago."

The 25 year old forward averaged just over 10 minutes of ice time per game. He should see an increase in his playing time. How much of an increase depends largely on what the Blackhawks do with Andrew Shaw. Panik quickly became a favorite of Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville. Quenneville showed a lot of faith in him by putting him on the first forward line while Hossa was out of the lineup. Chicago will need him to be productive next season.

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