After the Chicago Blackhawks exited the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive season, general manager Stan Bowman said most anything would be up for changing. Bowman started by firing assistant coach Mike Kitchen and Rockford IceHogs leader Ted Dent before trading backup goaltender Scott Darling to Caroina.
We got our first Blackhawks player retention/addition of the offseason this morning, though. Forward Richard Panik avoided free agency by inking a two-year deal with Chicago. He’ll be paid $2.8 million annually under the deal.
After tallying 44 points last season, an NHL career high, Panik made sure he got paid.