Kane, Panarin Lead Blackhawks Past Bruins
It was an… interesting day at the United Center on Sunday.
The Hawks were hoping to get off to a better start, and accomplished that with a big first period. Chicago put 19 shots on net and scored twice in the opening period as Artem Anisimov scored his 20th of the season on a power play and Patrick Kane scored on a breakaway. That would only be the beginning of a huge afternoon that that line and the Hawks offense.
In the second period, the Blackhawks looked like a dominant team looking to defend their title for 19 minutes. Kane scored his 42nd of the season only 54 seconds into the period, and just 66 seconds later Marian Hossa had a great chance to score his 500th career goal with a 2-on-1 but instead deferred to Jonathan Toews. The Hawks’ captain scored his 26th of the season to extend the lead to four and chase Boston starter Tuukka Rask from the game.
Rask allowed four goals against 22 shots in only 22 minutes of action. He was replaced by Jonas Gustavsson.
The Hawks didn’t treat Gustavsson much better. Kane fed Artemi Panarin for his 28th of the season less than four minutes after the change. That assist gave Kane 99 points on the season.
Nine minutes later, Kane reached an exclusive club.
With that goal, his third of the game and 43rd of the year, Kane reached 100 points on the year. His performance in the opening 40 minutes was enough for the NBC crew to say the case for this year’s Hart Trophy was closed – Kane is the league’s most valuable player.
When the hats were cleared off the ice and the celebration of Kane’s milestone concluded, the Hawks put their offense away for the afternoon, unfortunately. And a game that was 6-0 became more stressful than it should have been.
In the final 16 seconds of the second period, Boston scored twice. David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron scored 11 seconds apart to not only end Scott Darling’s shutout bid, but also cut the lead to four before the second intermission.
Exhale. The Hawks still have a four-goal lead.
When the third began, Boston’s top line – the most productive in the NHL – continued to make life hell for the Hawks. Bergeron scored again, his 32nd of the year, at 2:39 and then Brad Marchand added his 36th of the season at 9:51. Suddenly a blowout was in question.
The Bruins matched the dominance the Blackhawks displayed in the first period in the third, out-shooting Chicago 17-3 in the final frame. It was painfully obvious that the Hawks missed suspended Duncan Keith down the stretch; Erik Gustafsson skated just 11:39 and Viktor Svedberg was credited with four giveaways.
But the Hawks were able to hang on and pick up two critical points in the standings. Chicago will now finish no lower than third in the Central Division, meaning a date with either St. Louis or Dallas is coming up in the first round of the playoffs.
Allowing four goals wasn’t the only concern at the end of the game. Already without Andrew Shaw, who has already been ruled out for Tuesday as well because of an upper-body injury suffered in Winnipeg, the Hawks are hopeful Hossa doesn’t miss much time. He appeared to suffer a knee injury during the third period and did not return. After the game, the team indicated they’re hopeful he can still go on Tuesday.
Coach Joel Quenneville picked up his 800th career regular season win.
As one would expect in a six-goal win, there were lots of highlights in the box score. Panarin had his second consecutive four-point game, matching Kane’s 72 point rookie mark with the club. NBC also crowned Panarin during the second intermission, saying the Calder Trophy race was over. Panarin became the first rookie in club history to record back-to-back four-point games.
Chicago’s rookie sniper is now tied for 11th in the NHL in points, only one behind Dallas’ Tyler Seguin. Unfortunately for both Dallas fans and those keeping track of Panarin’s bonus clauses, Seguin’s regular season is over. Panarin sits four points behind San Jose’s Joe Pavelski, who is sixth in the league with 76 points.
Anisimov had a three-point afternoon (one goal, two assists) and Brent Seabrook picked up two assists in the game as well. Seabrook led the Hawks with three blocked shots, while Dale Weise made a rare appearance and led Chicago with three hits.
Darling finished the afternoon with a .913 save percentage; he stopped 42 of 46 in the win.
Definitely a spill your beer type of game. Glad there was no one here at the house today ( except the dog, who joins in with the highs and lows) ’cause there was a lot of whopping, holler’ing, dancing, swearing and gnashing of teeth. Downright embarrising if it wasn’t just me. I’ll have more of that please but with Keith and Crawford on the ice.
Nothing but prejudice and patriotism can keep breadman from his Calder due. He’s done it on the ice and he’s done it all year.
Hope we get the Blues first round…Nashville will give Dallas fits and ditto Minnesota against LA. Blackhawks/Caps or Florida would be a humdinger.
What are chances of bringing Bickell back for the playoffs?
That was a fun game. Games like that remind me how much I hate neutral zone trapping snoozefests.
The Panarin situation is getting reaaaaaally interesting. The $1.8M in cap space is huge for next year! Games from here on out are pretty much meaningless. It’s pretty clear that his continued production this year does no good and hurts the club next year. Nobody’s fault of course, just a casualty of a bizarre situation.
I know it’s probably underhanded and he deserves the bonuses… a deal is a deal and if he earns his $1.8M, then fair enough. But I admit that part of me wants to see his PP time limited, or to rest Kane for a couple games before the playoffs. Yeah, that’s an awful way to “reward” a young, talented guy who’s done really well for you all year, but someone in the front office must have had a similar fleeting thought at some point.
I think all in all, they just have to let it play out. That probably means resting Kane on the last game of the regular season (as usual), but nothing fishy or out of the ordinary. If Panarin cracks the top-10, then good for him. Best case scenario is that he doesn’t crack the top-10, but fails fairly. Either way, this is a really unique situation playing out!
This has been something we have seen so many times before over the last 6 yrs. The just cant or wont step on other teams throats. The hawks get leads and then let other teams climb back into the game. Not sure why that is?
….wow!..lots of firepower left on this team…not sure if Blackhawks are that good or if Bruins officially suck….but we will take the two points to the bank…thank you…please repeat again so we can do our happy dance!…..lol….
…To: Rob…..don’t worry about Bickell….he’ll be back!……
What are the bonus clauses for da Breadman?
Here’s the bonus breakdown for Panarin:
Games played bonuses achieved. +$200K
3 Schedule A bonuses achieved (top 6 forward in TOI, 20G, .73 PPG), 4th likely (making All-Rookie team). +$850K
Schedule B bonus is TBD. It’s worth $1.725M.
Panarin has already made $1.05M in bonuses, with a chance to get $1.725M more.
His best chance of getting Schedule B is finishing top-10 in the league in points. As Tab mentioned he’s currently tied for 11th with Blake Wheeler, one point behind Seguin who’s done for the year. Wheeler has a game in hand, and Kopitar is two points back with a game in hand.
He could also get Schedule B for making the NHL first or second team All-Star (I think that’s an end-of-year honor, but it could refer to the actual All-Star game. I’m confused about that).
Oh, Panarin also gets Schedule B if he finishes top 5 in league in Hart voting or wins the Conn Smythe. The former is unlikely… but I’d happily pay $1.725M for the latter.
Thank you, Travis.
The priority for the last three games is giving 19, 4 and 7 some rest. Since 81 is dinged up just keep him out until the playoffs. The Hawks need to be injury free to make a playoff run.
Mining Man- You sound just like me yelling at the TV during the games. I imagine many of us on this blog are close to being committed by our families.
Interestingly, Panarin doesn’t get anything for winning the Calder. That’s probably a good thing.
If 72 makes the B Bonus… Pretty much Guaranteed Shaw is gone next year… (or someone else w/ Bigger cap hit is gone)… so that is bad news…
Hope Hossa plays Tuesday???? I hope he can play in two weeks!!! Left Knee (I think it is the same one he hurt earlier) looked like an MCL sprain… Yikes!!!
Ernie- Darling was really shaky again!!! Losing the net several times…
Bet if there were more than 6 weeks left in season… Leighton would get a serious look!!!
Wheeler scored a goal tonight. Kopitar didn’t play.
Points:
10) Seguin, 73, 0 games left
11) Wheeler, 73, 3 games left
12) Panarin, 72, 3 games left
13) Kopitar, 70, 4 games left
Someone should get Shaw a Wheeler jersey.
Wonder what happens if Panarin ties for 10th…
And does anybody know what “First or Second Team All Star” means?
Frog soup.
Great game, the boys showed what they are capable of when everyone gives their all and what can happen if they let their foot of the gas and give the bad guys any slack. But, ill say what has been said multiple times already, a win is a win. On the subject of yelling at the tv screen during games, this is a habit that I am notorious for. I wouldn’t be able to control it if I tried. I’ll start yelling at the game even if I’m watching it at a bar by myself. My family still jokes about the time we watched a game in a hospital room because I had collapsed a lung. Despite the fact I had a tube coming out my side I would shout at bad passes or missed calls and jump for joy after a goal, even though it was extremely painful every time I got excited. Just goes to show my passion for our Hawks, and I know I’m just one of many that will root for them no matter what.
Count me in for yelling at that game as well. The Hawks easily won that game until they took their foot off the gas, including just playing keep away on the PP and everyone trying to get Hossa his 500th ad not putting it in the net themselves. He will get his 500th eventully no rush. I hated seeing Boston getting any of those goals with big mouth Chara and Marchand on that team
Someone scuff up Darling’s skates. He’s over committing.
I don’t yell at the tv. I tend to grumble. But I dont go nuts when they score either. Unless it’s a playoff GWG. That’s different!
I do find that I spend way more time than I’d like explaining what just happened to other people watching. We’re both watching the same screen. PAY ATTENTION!
Big Will- Funny hospital story. Sounds like you need to take a tranquilizer before the game.
PP–did anyone else notice…. 72 and 88 morphed into that “Russian PP 2-1-2 set” and quickly got TT — GRADE A one-timer from inside the left circle!!!
I still wonder if they are “practicing” that set… or it is just happening???
Have to think they’ve been practicing it. Testing it out before playoffs.
It’s a different way of creating space. Typically there’s bodies galore around the house. And you’re hoping for a redirect after a blast from the point. This idea pulls more bodies away from the front of the net. Makes it tougher for the goalie to see the puck when its behind him. Then makes him move more when it does come out. With fewer bodies to block.
Execution of moving the puck is made easier when you have a right and left shot below the line.
Mining/61/Will/Ernie, I am basically the same way with coaching. What do you mean, being committed by our familys. Their not allowed in the building.
That’s what I think, we have strageys (PP/coming out of our zone) but were not going to show them during games 60-80.
Panarin is actually 10th right now and 2 points ahead of 11th. His bonus clause for B bonus is: Schedule B bonuses (max $1,725,000): $1,725,000 for any of the following achievements – top 10 forward in the league in goals/assists/points/points per game (min 42GP), top 5 in league in Hart/Selke/Richard voting, NHL First or Second team all star, Conn Smythe
Key word in the Top 10 is Top 10 Forward. There are 2 D-men in the top 10 currently, so remove them from the equation and Panarin is Top 10 in points among forwards right now, 2 points ahead of Kopitar and 3 ahead of Tarasenko.
Jason… thanks for the Bad news… ( then–Shaw — pretty much gone next year)
Unless they do something with Hossa and/or Bickell. The number Kruger got definitely doesn’t help the cause. Shaw might be the collateral you have to pay to vanquish Bickell. As of right now Shaw is a 4th liner. When everything is ideal lineup wise, he’s a 3rd line wing. He gets some pp and some PK time. But not much. So you could make the argument a guy like Kruger who wins draws and kills penalties is more valuable.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens next year. Top line will be forced to be addressed. If not Hossa, then Ladd at the very least. Hartman if he keeps the penalties down could play a similar role to Shaw if he’s dealt. I wouldn’t mind seeing Fleischmann back. No way Ladd takes less than 4 which is probably the max the Hawks could do. Maybe they’re able to coerce a guy like Vesey to come aboard. Doubt it.
On defense you know 2,4,and 7 will be there. If Brian Campbell would take less for a year or 2 thatd be stellar. Then can have 52 and 57 as 5/6. Still don’t know their thoughts on Pokka. With the Keith suspension would think he might get a game or 2 but it doesn’t look like it.
Cap friendly has an arm chair GM feature. Bettman said the cap could rise 3 million for next season. That was in December. The players would have to invoke their escalator clause. With all that aside. Let’s assume the cap climbs to 74. Lets also assume Stan is able to perform another miracle and get rid of Bickell (Svedberg goes with for a 2019 7th rd pick).
Since I’m dreaming, the Hawks also sign Vesey to a 2 year ELC. Re-sign Fleischmann for 1 at 1. Sign UFA Brian Campbell for 2 yrs @ 4 per. Hartman will be recalled. Since this is fantasy, rather than signing Shaw, the Hawks sign Doan for 2 million for his swan song. I just want to see Doan win a cup. (Maybe Shaw rights is what has to go for someone to take 29)
Vesey-19-81
72-15-88
12-86-Doan
11-16-Hartman
2-7
51-4
52-57
Pokka
50,33
I’m not sure if Panarin’s overages are factored in or not. It appears they are. In any event the Hawks would have 2.053 in space. With all that its not a foregone conclusion Shaw is gone. If 29 is gone and if the cap goes up to 74.
Salary cap going up 2.6m
Soupy has mad his contract, I think he would for very low caphit.
Vote for escalator.
It’s likely going up to $74mil…but could stay at $71.4 if the NHLPA does not approve the escalator clause…I can’t really see that happening…
One more season of Bickle’s shit contract…blech.
Bickell
Going to lose Ladd, Weise, Fleishman, Rosival for sure in the offseason. Saddled with one more year of Bickell contract. As ridiculous as it may sound, the best strategy may be to sell high on Panarin. Let’s face it, there is very doubtful any way the Hawks can afford Panarin when he’s up for a new contract in a year. So why not trade him now and get something…plus some salary relief. It’s gruesome to think about the roster carnage that is going to happen this summer. I prefer to live in denial until the Hawks playoff run comes to a good or bad ending.
Why would they lose Fleischmann? He’s 1 year removed from being in camp on a tryout and taking a 750k salary. He has 25 points in 73 games and he’s 32. I think he could be had for a 25% pay increase. Cant get too much cheaper than that.
I thought Panarin was arookie, so why would he be unaffordable after next year?
Rufus is right about the upcoming annual roster carnage but wrong about the axe falling on Panarin. The main reason for this is number 88. Kane is in a career year, Art Ross assured and front runner for the Hart, which he should win unless they rob him (could happen). I’m saying Kane may well have done all this sooner had he the linemates he is blessed with this season. The club will do a lot of things to manage the cap before they move 72.
Returning to the topic of Q’s 800th win….in case you never thought about it, Joel Quennville has never won the Jack Adams with Chicago. That’s a crime right there. Insignificantly, they gave it to him once (1999-2000) when he was behind the bench in St. Louis, back in the days he spent dreaming about coaching a great team in a different city. Time they stop handing it to whoever this year’s Cinderella may be and recognize the best coach in the game.
Mike the Mook, I hope you reconsider
For Adams could probably argue Gallant and Trotz are mode deserving than Q. Had they not lagged post all star as much as they did it would be different. Awards like coach of the year should have playoff performance included. Look what Q did to Boudreau last year.
Just heard Wyshinski on xm talk about Hart and Calder. The argument against Panarin is his production when Kane (MVP) isn’t on the ice.
Now, Panarin is a rookie. Yes. Being older his ELC was 2 years. So he’ll be up next summer. Why you trade him a hear before RFA status is asinine. The team still has control. You try to sign him this summer as Stan has said he’d like to. “Kane will be mad if we don’t”. Say he wants an ungodly sum and youre fearing an offer sheet that would cripple you. Then you trade him. As was the case with Saad.
When negotiating with Panarin, the same argument being used against him for Calder will be used by Stan in extension talks. How much are you worth without an mvp on the other side. You also have to remember an expansion draft will be coming. This can and will free up space. The Canadian dollar seems to be bouncing back. And Hossa could be gone.
But yeah, trade him now. I thought Teuvo was supposed to be long gone too?
Red Top – agree wholeheartedly. Another wicked purge may be in store for us, Rufus is right, but SB et al have to find a way to keep Panarin. Kane and Panarin are magic together. You can’t have the cheese without the bread!
Rufus is full of it and talking out of his ass again. His act grew tiresome here quite some time ago. He will be proven wrong once again…the sky isn’t falling Rufus.
The options for Bowman to stay under the salary cap this summer will be precious few. Sadly Shaw will be gone. And I just suggest again the best strategy may be to trade Panarin. He’s not going to take a discount to stay in Chicago. Idiots that believe that were the same idiots who thought Saad was a cinch to re-sign with the Hawks too.
Hossa and his contract aren’t going anywhere. He won’t be traded and he won’t retire. So that scenario is a non starter. Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Anisimov, Crawford, Kruger aren’t going anywhere either. So it begs the question if you are extremely doubtful going to keep Panarin after the 2016-17 season then why not say to hell with it and move him this summer.
Why keep him? Because you can win in 16/17 too. I never said discount on Panarin. If the cap goes up 3 million and if they can get rid of Bickell, you have 7 million. Minus 1.5 for Kruger. Minus 1 for Seabrook. You have 4.5 you didn’t this time last year.
Hossa retiring would actually hurt the Hawks because of the recapture. Seeing how Bettman was so adamant about the recapture, I doubt they’re able to pull the LTIR trick. Recapture would stay with if he’s traded too
We’ve heard the things about expansion and those contracts being exempt. Players waive those all the time. Is it that far-fetched to think he’d waive it in that instance? Especially when there’s little chance he’d play there. A recapture penalty on a fledgling team may not be a bad idea. We’ve seen Arizona and Florida do it. Maybe Vegas would just to get to the cap floor. Lots of maybe’s that no one knows yet.
Trading Panarin would be like the Oilers trading Gretzky.
I see no reason why we cant sign guys like 12 or 25 as long as they sign for .750-1/1.125m kind if thing. Just roll with 21 on 23man.
I’ve got little use for Weise. Me thinks Q feels similarly.
Not because he’s a Shaolin monk, not because he wanted to rip the face off of Hofmeister over the Kane incident last summer, and not because he trained Steven Seagal in the black arts, but because there’s a hint of logic in the idea, I’m going to agree with Rufus about Panarin.
If we can’t afford to sign him long term, why not trade him for a solid defender while his value is super high? We need to reload on defense.
It’s not all that crazy of a thought.
Trading him in 2016 is.
Dennis Gilbert. Ville Pokka. Gustav Forsling. Carl Dahlstrom. Robin Norell. Joni Tuulola.
Most are a couple years away. But, where’s the prospect depth at forward. I don’t think it’s quite as deep. Both pools are lacking guys ready now.
Here’s a thought. Rather than sign a guy like Campbell to be the stop gap for a couple years. What about a deal around Shaw and Hamonic?
Of course I don’t want to see Panarin traded this summer. That said, it may be the smart move and, really, the only move that makes sense. The salary cap is real boys and girls, and the Blackhawks are right up against it. 12 months ago NOBODY on this blog, and I mean NOBODY, would have ever predicted that Saad would be gone. And look what happened there. So do you go with Panarin for one more season, when he is a virtual lock to be gone after 2016-17 no matter what? Or do you trade him this offseason and get some meaningful value back while also addressing the critical salary cap crunch?
Trading Panarin this offseason IS going to be on the table for Stan Bowman. It’s simple math and reality. Whether it happens or not I have no idea. But dumping Bickell’s contract doesn’t happen unless the Hawks trade a top line prospect with him. And when you look at the holes that will be on this roster because of the salary cap carnage, well then the argument can be made that you need to maximize your tradeable assets when you can to reload. Crawford, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Kane, Toews, Hossa, Kruger, Anisimov are going nowhere. So the options therefore to find salary cap flexibility while also “reloading on the fly” are quite limited.
I put the odds of Panarin being traded this summer at better than 50%.
Patrick Kane put up 72 points his rookie year. Panarin is at 72 points with 3 games left. In Panarin we may be looking at another generational type talent. Stan will do whatever it takes to keep him. I was a big Saad fan but his offensive skill set is not in the same league as #72. Saad does not have the explosive and accurate shot of Panarin and is not nearly as good a passer. The idea of trading your best young talent is off the chart ridiculous.
Saad….younger than Panarin. Different player. Different game. Panarin’s probably already reached his ceiling. Or is very near it.
Saad is a better player than Panarin. Saad is a legitimate two way player and young. Panarin meanwhile is a nice offensive talent. But to put him in the class of Kane is a great misjustice to #88. And to label Panarin a generational talent is comical. Nice player. Nice offensive game. But benefits greatly from his linemates and is, in fact, one dimensional. I’m not denigrating Panarin and I would love to keep him as much as anyone would. But that might not be doable, or advisable, frankly. The Saad decision was hard. The Panarin decision will be hard.
Ernie- Ditto on Weise…
also agree on “ceiling” for 72… versus Saad…
and 72 plays with Kane… What would TT’s numbers be if he Centered Kane and 72 this year???
1961– while I agree that 72 is way better passer than Saad… Saad- has game changing speed and is way tougher/stronger defensively…
I am not suggesting trading 72… just saying- it could be looked at if Saad/type situation happens w/ $$$
I am not suggesting Panarin will be another Kane but I do believe he has special offensive talent. I also believe Panarin has upside potential especially defensively. Once he learns that it is not advisable to try and stick handle through three players at his own blue line and learns to play a more defensively responsible positional game he will become a complete player. No doubt Kane makes anybody look good but some of Kane’s success this year may be attributable to Panarin. I agree Wall that TT’s numbers would be much higher if he had centered 72/88 this year.
Same on 25, was no reason to keep who we want as long between .750-1.125m cap hit.
Saader stays if he does bridge contract. As much as I like 20/10 I really like 72/15 (at 4m for 6yr). I always combine the two players and overall we got better caphit (for 2yr and 6yr) and overall younger. Thing is we had Bick 4m where before/after we can use that. We know our organization will do what it takes to keep/get good players. We get players from our scouts that make up for picks and then. Beauty, eh.
Wall agree that you might have to trade 72 should you feel a Saad type situation coming. But to do so in 2016 is just foolish
Crow practicing with team.
Stan Bowman: Hey Patrick Kane I’m gonna trade Artemi Panarin straight up this summer to get Brandon Saad back and he can play with you.
Patrick Kane: STFU and put down the crack pipe Stan. I think you’ve lost your mind.
Good to see the Blackhawks have a chance at signing the Yale goalie Alex Lyon as goalie depth is not great and that would be a great signing with Leighton moving on
Kings, Flyers,Oilers among teams in on him as well. Spent the last 2 years at Chicago’s prospect camp. That can’t hurt already having a rapport.
What’s the word on Lyon? I haven’t heard anything about him, though it sounds like he’s coveted.
Smaller goalie, left school 1 year early despite being 23. Set all sorts of records at Yale.
Was second in the nation in one category and led in another. I believe 2nd was gaa and led in save percentage. Not 100 percent on that and am too lazy right now to do the work to look it up. Tiling my foyer and am lacking motivation waiting for the game on the radio.
Hey, thanks, Ernie. Tiling the foyer definitely takes precedence! I could actually do some homework of my own.
Lyon just signed with Philly so its all moot.
You have no idea. Building my own house. By myself. Work, come home. Work. Hawks have been my only real solace for the last 18 months.