RUMOR: Artemi Panarin to Blackhawks

According to Chicago Blackhawks insider Scott Powers, former Blackhawks forward and pending unrestricted free agent is willing to make a return to the Chicago organization if they meet his contract demands this off-season.


With the Blackhawks trading forward Nick Schmaltz earlier this week, they have made some cap space to possibly sign the forward this off-season.

The next question obviously is what can the Blackhawks do with that cap space. There are a number of intriguing players could be unrestricted free agents after the season. Among the most notable is Artemi Panarin, who would listen to an offer from the Blackhawks a source said Monday, according to Powers' article on The Athletic.

It is believed that Panarin will be asking $10+ million on the market this off-season and the Chicago organization isn't in the best salary cap position. Although they could afford Panarin, it could be hard to match what other franchises are offering the forward on the open market this coming off-season. Stan Bowman could try and sign his former player on a discounted price, which is very unlikely, but until we hear that a contract has been signed, the possibility of seeing Panarin back in a Blackhawks jersey is quite far fetched.