If he is responsible defensively, yes. He is what the Hawks are missing - a sniper, great shot, quick release, etc.
- KingB

5'11" 160 lbs, first time playing in the NHL. I give TT the jump ahead of him for sure. What does Panarin have that he doesn't? We should not set these expectations at all... I don't see it happening.

The GM should immediately be fired if he swapped Wilson for Sharp.... Wilson is going to be a beast.....
- PhilMcCracken

Don't know about the GM being dumped, but count me as a guy who thinks Wilson will be a complete beast. Kid is damn near a heavyweight, can really skate, is a wrecking ball, is relentless along the boards, his hands aren't bad (better than a point a game his draft year in the OHL), he skated 1st to 4th line and has 2 NHL seasons under his belt as a 21 yr old.

And best of all IMO he learned to make smarter decisions concerning his physicality under Trotz as the year went on, learning to think the game and situations.

His skating allows him to keep up with top 6 types, his tenacity and physicality makes him a great fit as a bottom 6 guy. I could see this guy as a 35-40 point player, a guy who makes the other teams' hacks think twice about going after top 6 guys, a guy who will tenderize opposing Dmen and cause a lot of turnovers not just with physicality but with real speed and possibly develop into a first rate net front presence on a PP.

All the makings of a complete beast.

I am still betting on the Crawford decision being a year from now but the world of experts on this board say I'm crazy.

We will see soon enough
- Colbyboy

Unless an offer absolutely blows them away, I agree with you.

5'11" 160 lbs, first time playing in the NHL. I give TT the jump ahead of him for sure. What does Panarin have that he doesn't? We should not set these expectations at all... I don't see it happening.
- HawksHype

A far better shot, more explosive, more experience, more physical development, better results playing with and against NHL caliber players. Is this enough?

Where did you get 160lbs? From his scouting report when he was 18? He's 23 now.

5'11" 160 lbs, first time playing in the NHL. I give TT the jump ahead of him for sure. What does Panarin have that he doesn't? We should not set these expectations at all... I don't see it happening.
- HawksHype

From what VERY little I saw of Panarin he plays much lower than TT does and is more offensive minded, more a scorer, a shoot first guy. TT is more dynamic and thinks pass first.

A far better shot, more explosive, more experience, more physical development, better results playing with and against NHL caliber players. Is this enough?

Where did you get 160lbs? From his scouting report when he was 18? He's 23 now.
- KingB

Experience? In the KHL? He has 25 INT games and 10 in the WC. TT has 20 playoff games against NHL players. I'm not trying to argue, I'm trying to figure out about a guy I have no idea about.

And you're right, I think I see 170 now.. still small.

From what VERY little I saw of Panarin he plays much lower than TT does and is more offensive minded, more a scorer, a shoot first guy. TT is more dynamic and thinks pass first.
- Mr Ricochet

What do you mean he plays lower?

What do you mean he plays lower?
- Bjm84

Center of gravity lower to the ice. Harder to knocknoff the puck. Very very verybskilled.


Nextbyear we will see 72 86 and 88 on a power playbunit and it will be magic.


Especially if Tom Wilson is net front presence ......

What do you mean he plays lower?
- Bjm84

Stronger on his skates, more powerful. Don't know what his weight is but IMO he plays heavier than 175lbs. He can skate through checks.

TT is a waterbug, disruptive stick and incredibly quick feet and hands.

Center of gravity lower to the ice. Harder to knocknoff the puck. Very very verybskilled.


Nextbyear we will see 72 86 and 88 on a power playbunit and it will be magic.


Especially if Tom Wilson is net front presence ......
- mrpaulish

I see a Claude Lemieux like style in Panarnin's play. Just a tough lil SOB

Stronger on his skates, more powerful. Don't know what his weight is but IMO he plays heavier than 175lbs. He can skate through checks.

TT is a waterbug, disruptive stick and incredibly quick feet and hands.
- Mr Ricochet

So between what you and mrpaulish describe, it sounds a lot like a Saad-like player. Correct in that statement?

>That's a huge question -- I'll touch a few key bases
>Having different sets of rules for the regular season and playoffs is a big sport credibility problem -- and the pool of quality NHL refs is very small and needs to be fixed ASAP
>Versteeg getting tackled on his first shift in Game 6 was a blatant penalty right in front of the ref -- why the no call?
>Calling a penalty a penalty in the playoffs, regardless of "game" circumstances would lessen the need for rule tweaking -- enforce the rules that are in the rulebook
>If one team is demonstrably better than the other, why can't there be the appropriate number of penalties called on the weaker team to reflect that?
>What is the NHL's understanding of its appeal or lack of appeal to U.S. sports fans?
>Does the NHL have a strategy to sell its game to all fans in ways that each level of fan can relate to?
>Or does the NHL think that milking the main markets and getting increased hockey-playing participation is the only answer? (How's that Arizona Coyotes franchise working out? 20yrs in AZ next year -- Ave Attendance: 13,345)
>NHL needs a total strategy overhaul from top to bottom
>It would help the NHL player as well (Jagr's salary in 1999-2000 was $17,400,000) -- top salary today (Weber) is still less
- SnapitUpstairs

I selected a few of the many points offered for a response...

-Why are Raffi Torres and Matt Cooke still allowed to play in the NHL? Who pays money to watch these scumbags play? And do people actually pay money to watch Corey Perry cross check Hossa in the kidneys? As long as the WWF crap (mind you, this crap is real, unlike the WWF) stays in the game at the expense of watching speed and skill, it's just not going to sell with as many people as they want.
-I don't envy the job of the officials on the ice. They are on the ice for all 60 minutes. The amount of real estate they have to cover is staggering.
-I agree that the desire to keep the penalties called somewhat even is a problem. A team that commits more penalties will take advantage of this arrangement, knowing they won't call everything. Think back to the 1994 Knicks and how they ran roughshod over opponents because they knew the refs wouldn't call every single infraction. It's the same thing here.
-Being from Phoenix originally, I can tell you that the biggest mistake the Coyotes made was setting up shop in Glendale. It is a logistical nightmare, as a lot of the wealth of the area is concentrated far, far away from there. It's one thing to go out there for eight Sundays a year to watch football, but it's entirely another thing to go out there for 41 regular season games on various nights of the week.

I see a Claude Lemieux like style in Panarnin's play. Just a tough lil SOB
- z1990z

I dont think he is THAT nasty.

But maybe he has a tad of compete level like Shaw has and thats good news party people.

I was just thinking today: Even though they're on the books for $21 million against the cap, how big of an effing value are Kane and Toews' contracts going to look like in 2-4 years when the cap starts taking off again?

And with 3 Stanley Cups? They're worth every penny and then some.
- 1mbecker

Exactly. People were freaking out at the $8M contracts Getzlaf and Perry inked a couple years ago - but that's the going rate for marquee/cornerstone players. And, as you pointed out - our cornerstone players deliver in the playoffs and bring home the Cup.

It's not a mystery in terms of the model - identify and keep a core of top players - supplement that with a capable prospect pool and one or two veteran UFAs along the way. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Experience? In the KHL? He has 25 INT games and 10 in the WC. TT has 20 playoff games against NHL players. I'm not trying to argue, I'm trying to figure out about a guy I have no idea about.

And you're right, I think I see 170 now.. still small.
- HawksHype

How many KHL games did you find for Panarin? You do realize he outscored Kovalchuck this year?

So between what you and mrpaulish describe, it sounds a lot like a Saad-like player. Correct in that statement?
- HawksHype

Smaller than Saad .

Not as fast as Saad.

Maybe he has a better shot than Saad.

We'll see.

So between what you and mrpaulish describe, it sounds a lot like a Saad-like player. Correct in that statement?
- HawksHype

Understand I saw this guy twice, I think. But no, Saad is a power forward and Panarin is a pure scorer that plays with some jam. Closer to Sharp than Saad if I had to make a comparison with Hawk players.

Why does everyone have baun penciled in. He didn't look bad but only played because he had a clause like carey the year before we're he had to play. I also hope we get Wilson in a trade. We know the top six my bottom six would be
Dejsardans - kruger - shaw
Mashinter/wilson someone tough besides nordstrom then danault- and what ever rookie plays the best baun Hartman McNeil or versteeg

I dont think he is THAT nasty.

But maybe he has a tad of compete level like Shaw has and thats good news party people.
- mrpaulish

I guess I see the Claude Lemieux style of attacking the puck. Not afraid of contact. Fearless..

I guess I see the Claude Lemieux style of attacking the puck. Not afraid of contact. Fearless..
- z1990z

Like Shaw . With more skill

I dont think he is THAT nasty.

But maybe he has a tad of compete level like Shaw has and thats good news party people.
- mrpaulish

Yes, Panarin is edgy and mouthy. His defensive and team structure play are the biggest question marks - and the Russian factor - adjusting to US and, should we say, staying in line and playing nice with his classmates in the locker room and off ice.

Yes, Panarin is edgy and mouthy. His defensive and team structure play are the biggest question marks - and the Russian factor - adjusting to US and, should we say, staying in line and playing nice with his classmates in the locker room and off ice.
- KingB

For the $ its low risk high reward. Lets face it with 3 Cups on 6 years the Hawks are playing with equity . On thenflip sode he could fall right intonline and the Hawks could be possession dominators again.

Yes, Panarin is edgy and mouthy. His defensive and team structure play are the biggest question marks - and the Russian factor - adjusting to US and, should we say, staying in line and playing nice with his classmates in the locker room and off ice.
- KingB

Im sure Panarnin will figure it out. He wants to start in the NHL. Gotta play both ways. Im betting his KHL team didnt ask him to play a whole lotta D. Im sure he will be fine. You can teach D. You cant teach the natural skill he has.

Agreed. Most of them all are cocky and punks when they are drafted. I'm sure Eichel will be very good.

At what point does an Oiler fan give up? My lord. How many top picks do you need before you reload? RNH, Yakupov, Hall, and now McDavid?
- SteveRain

You know what, I think we are finally good with not drafting first for awhile after this next one.

How many KHL games did you find for Panarin? You do realize he outscored Kovalchuck this year?
- KingB

Look... I know nothing about Panarin, but I think it's tough to expect a guy coming over from the KHL to be able to slot into the top 6 right away, let alone top line. You're right, he did outscore Kovalchuck, by 1 goal. I'm just trying to pick people's brains to figure out why they think he can jump into this role right away. IMO, experience in the KHL doesn't translate over to enough experince to me. I'm excited for him though, another young guy who has this potential is great, given the cap hell we're falling into. Just don't want to get my hopes up.