Podkolzin is a beast and he's going to light up the World Juniors in a few weeks for Mother Russia. Silky smooth hands but VERY strong on the puck in all areas of the ice. He's got that Russian Country Strength and would be a fantastic consolation prize for losing the Lottery.


Also Elliotte Friedman on his 31 Thoughts Podcast for Sportsnet said that both the Rangers and Blackhawks are "gearing up to take a run at Panarin this summer".


He still thinks he ends up a Ranger but says the Hawks will try.....


EDIT: Could end up with the Mother Russia line next year of Panarin-Anisimov-Podkolzin????
- EnzoD

I think anisomov days are numbered. It wouldn't surprise me that maybe their was a potential trade involving him and his injury slowed that process.

Worse case scenario he is dealt February. I don't see how Chicago will have enough money to address a top 6 guy like PANARIN or anyone for that matter unless they move out some serious cap / contracts.

Because that's what 30 goals and a ppg costs.

Austin Matthews and Partick Laine are 100% worth 4 firsts. Plus a lottery pick this year. They're relevant for last 4 years of Kane, Toews and Keith's current deals and that would be fun. The talent pool will be so diluted after Seattle that those 4 picks really won't mattee.

And the 50 Matthews or Laine get with Kane is wayyyyyy better than anything Panarin has to offer.

They have a surplus of plus defenders they can flip for picks down the line. Plus the entertainment factor of everyone losing their minds over it would be well worth the price of admission.
- fattybeef

Matthews > Laine in terms of a complete player, Center, and Leader. Matthews is a (frank)ing tank at 20 years old and will only get stronger. Best left-handed wrist shot that I've ever seen and Matthews with Kane each would be good for 100 points a year.

WELL worth the 4 1st round picks 110% agree. But the Leafs will match anything on Matthews and trade Tavares/Nylander for scraps if they have to.

The Hawks need to rebuild and signing Panarin at age 27 makes their predicament worse than it is now. I want to see the Hawks go after draft picks and prospcts under 23 years of age.

I would love to see both Marner and Matthews get offer sheets for $12-13M each. There is no chance the Leafs can or would match both.
- paulr

That's what Stans goal should be is to move out as much cap space , Keith, Seabrook, toews , Crawford and have money to go after these young proven guys . Matthews IMO would be better to have than an aging toews . Chicago's rebuild would be a lot faster and then your looking at 2 to 3 years only before Chicago could be a contender.

Matthews > Laine in terms of a complete player, Center, and Leader. Matthews is a (frank)ing tank at 20 years old and will only get stronger. Best left-handed wrist shot that I've ever seen and Matthews with Kane each would be good for 100 points a year.

WELL worth the 4 1st round picks 110% agree. But the Leafs will match anything on Matthews and trade Tavares/Nylander for scraps if they have to.
- EnzoD

I still think if Stan had half a brain he would be looking at July 1st free agents and realizing he needs to dump at least 3 out of the 5 remaining core players to make a serious run at a Matthews. Toews IMO was great but now it's time to move on from him.

Matthews > Laine in terms of a complete player, Center, and Leader. Matthews is a (frank)ing tank at 20 years old and will only get stronger. Best left-handed wrist shot that I've ever seen and Matthews with Kane each would be good for 100 points a year.

WELL worth the 4 1st round picks 110% agree. But the Leafs will match anything on Matthews and trade Tavares/Nylander for scraps if they have to.
- EnzoD

Either way they get a beast. Both teams would match and its as unlikely as getting Seabrook of the books but it would be a fun thing to talk about this summer and the NHL in general would lose their minds.

All about that entertainment value with how this year has gone.

Honestly, if they sign Panarin: he instantly fixes the PP and the Hawks make the playoffs. He is an elite talent, and when him and Kane are on the ice together it is top notch hockey.

The question then becomes, did you 'rebuild/retool' long enough or well enough to stock up for a playoff series? Can a D corp of Keith+youngsters survive an onslaught from the likes of Winnipeg or Nashville? Can you outscore your way from trouble in the playoffs? Can you manage the cap even more now that you're right back in Cap Hell with another $8-11MM per year contract on the books?

I don't know the answer to those questions. The only contracts giving us some relief soon are Ruuta, Kunitz, Ward, hopefully Anisimov, and after next season Crawford.
- ObeseOprah

PANARIN IMO isn't the right person Chicago needs to target. Chicago needs to move at least Keith, toews, Crawford and utilize the draft , then have enough money to target and make a offer sheet to Matthews that Toronto couldn't match.


Then you have Matthews, strome as your 2 top centers both young .

That's always been Chicago's problem is not having center depth. Toews is gonna be 31 , Matthews will be 21 that would be money well spent for Chicago.

I still think if Stan had half a brain he would be looking at July 1st free agents and realizing he needs to dump at least 3 out of the 5 remaining core players to make a serious run at a Matthews. Toews IMO was great but now it's time to move on from him.
- Taylorst1

Why trade Toews? Hes looked great this year and can slide right into that Stevie Y role with Matthews as the Fedorov and Strome bum slaying everyone else. Lol.

My fantasy land scenario works better with Toews than without him and trading a forward with his skill set is silly.

You know what stings still. Having a terrible 2015 draft. Looking back...wow was that draft class good and we didn't have a 1st round pick and none of the guys we picked have seen the NHL. Here is a list of the first round choices. A lot of guys in the top 100 total points so far this year and a lot of those that aren't are pretty darn good players.

Connor McDavid 4th
Jack Eichel 10th
Dylan Strome
Mitch Marner 6th
Noah Hanifin
Pavel Zacha
Ivan Provorov
Zach Werenski
Timo Meier 33rd
Mikko Rantanen 1st
Lawson Crouse
Denis Gurianov
Jakub Zboril
Jake DeBrusk
Zachary Senyshyn
Mathew Barazal 73rd
Kyle Connor 54th
Thomas Chabot 26th
Evgenny Svechnikiov
Joel Eriksson Ek
Colin White
Ilya Samsonov
Brock Boeser
Travis Konecny
Jack Roslovic
Noah Juulsen
Anthony Beauvillier
Gabriel Carlsson

Edit: just to add, this is who we drafted

Graham Knott
Dennis Gilbert
Ryan Seab
Radovan Bondra
Roy Radke
Joni Tuulola
John Dahlstrom

That's what Stans goal should be is to move out as much cap space , Keith, Seabrook, toews , Crawford and have money to go after these young proven guys . Matthews IMO would be better to have than an aging toews . Chicago's rebuild would be a lot faster and then your looking at 2 to 3 years only before Chicago could be a contender.
- Taylorst1

Problem is an aging Toews will be very tough to trade.

So then the Hawks have an aging Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford taking a third of the cap, then add in matthews at $13M?? and you have almost 50% of the cap on 5 players 4 of whom have played their best hockey. Matthews is a nice pipe dream but unless the Hawks can unload the "core" I don't see how it would work. Also I can't see Matthews having interest in a team that is at the beginning of their rebuild.

The best route for the Hawks is to stockpile draft picks and prospects and try to move out as many veterans as possible. It's a 3 or 4 year process that has to happen for the Hawks to be relevant again. Signing, Panarin matthews etc. etc. are all nice ideas as shortcuts but shortcuts in building a team, especially in the cap era seldom work.

Either way they get a beast. Both teams would match and its as unlikely as getting Seabrook of the books but it would be a fun thing to talk about this summer and the NHL in general would lose their minds.

All about that entertainment value with how this year has gone.
- fattybeef

What I don't understand is why Toronto has not got Matthews contract done already? What are they waiting for any thoughts ?

Either way they get a beast. Both teams would match and its as unlikely as getting Seabrook of the books but it would be a fun thing to talk about this summer and the NHL in general would lose their minds.

All about that entertainment value with how this year has gone.
- fattybeef

Seabs is going to be the 1st captain of the Seattle franchise, and I would not be shocked if Q was the first coach there.

Problem is an aging Toews will be very tough to trade.

So then the Hawks have an aging Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford taking a third of the cap, then add in matthews at $13M?? and you have almost 50% of the cap on 5 players 4 of whom have played their best hockey. Matthews is a nice pipe dream but unless the Hawks can unload the "core" I don't see how it would work. Also I can't see Matthews having interest in a team that is at the beginning of their rebuild.

The best route for the Hawks is to stockpile draft picks and prospects and try to move out as many veterans as possible. It's a 3 or 4 year process that has to happen for the Hawks to be relevant again. Signing, Panarin matthews etc. etc. are all nice ideas as shortcuts but shortcuts in building a team, especially in the cap era seldom work.
- paulr

You bring up some good points. I Still think toews has value and it's just finding the right partner.


Matthews would have a great opportunity to come to a original 6 team play alongside Kane and he could be the future captain.

But I'd rather see Matthews over panarin.

What I don't understand is why Toronto has not got Matthews contract done already? What are they waiting for any thoughts ?
- Taylorst1

Nylander was their first priority. The longer the Leafs wait, the better Matthews and Marner are playing and the more money they will command. The Leafs are already in cap hell and they have no defense.

PANARIN IMO isn't the right person Chicago needs to target. Chicago needs to move at least Keith, toews, Crawford and utilize the draft , then have enough money to target and make a offer sheet to Matthews that Toronto couldn't match.


Then you have Matthews, strome as your 2 top centers both young .

That's always been Chicago's problem is not having center depth. Toews is gonna be 31 , Matthews will be 21 that would be money well spent for Chicago.
- Taylorst1

Panarin+Kane is nearly unstoppable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rduCI8OwMWs

Doesn't really matter who else is on the ice, the game slows down for those two.

Honestly, if they sign Panarin: he instantly fixes the PP and the Hawks make the playoffs. He is an elite talent, and when him and Kane are on the ice together it is top notch hockey.

The question then becomes, did you 'rebuild/retool' long enough or well enough to stock up for a playoff series? Can a D corp of Keith+youngsters survive an onslaught from the likes of Winnipeg or Nashville? Can you outscore your way from trouble in the playoffs? Can you manage the cap even more now that you're right back in Cap Hell with another $8-11MM per year contract on the books?

I don't know the answer to those questions. The only contracts giving us some relief soon are Ruuta, Kunitz, Ward, hopefully Anisimov, and after next season Crawford.
- ObeseOprah

Dude....you’re joking right?

You honestly think adding one more player like Panarin puts this team on the verge of making a playoff run?

Man...I can’t believe how naive some fans still are about our situation.

We are NEVER going to make the playoffs/contend again until we completely rebuild EVERYTHING. Going after another large contract and keeping the rest of the core is a ludicrous idea.

Add Panarin to this team and we’d go from being the worst team in the league to like the 7th or 8th worst team in the league. Which does absolutely nothing other than decrease our chances at drafting a major talent and slows down the speed at which we can rebuild.

No more pieces to add. Not unless they’re top picks or prospects. We need to forget about Kane and Panarin. Forget about Toews. Definitely forget about Keith and Seabrook. I’d be looking for ways to trade every last one of them, including Kane, and I’d be looking to tank the rest of this season and next season. Draft top 3 for a few years in a row. Add those pieces to our young defenseman, Strome, and Dcat and whatever additional prospects and picks we can accumulate over the next few years via trading the old core.

Because that's what 30 goals and a ppg costs.

Austin Matthews and Partick Laine are 100% worth 4 firsts. Plus a lottery pick this year. They're relevant for last 4 years of Kane, Toews and Keith's current deals and that would be fun. The talent pool will be so diluted after Seattle that those 4 picks really won't mattee.

And the 50 Matthews or Laine get with Kane is wayyyyyy better than anything Panarin has to offer.

They have a surplus of plus defenders they can flip for picks down the line. Plus the entertainment factor of everyone losing their minds over it would be well worth the price of admission.
- fattybeef

If Buffalo could trade Pominville/Sobotka/Berglund/Okposo
and get a couple first round picks, they'd have the cap space
for both Skinner and the picks to offer sheet Matthews for sure.
I'd love to be Botterill right now

This off season could be the best in years should any of the
new wave GM's go the offer sheet route.

Dilution of talent will be huge once Seattle joins up.

Panarin might be worth $8 @ 8g 26a but to pay more their
are other options, do you want a playmaker for $8m or
a goal scorer for $8mil, maybe a two way player for $8mil.

Dude....you’re joking right?

You honestly think adding one more player like Panarin puts this team on the verge of making a playoff run?

Man...I can’t believe how naive some fans still are about our situation.

We are NEVER going to make the playoffs/contend again until we completely rebuild EVERYTHING. Going after another large contract to try and keeping the rest of the core is a ludicrous idea.

Add Panarin to this team and we’d go from being the worst team in the league to like the 7th or 8th worst team in the league. Which does absolutely nothing other than decrease our chances at drafting a major talent and slows down the speed at which we can rebuild.

No more pieces to add. Not unless they’re top picks or prospects. We need to forget about Kane and Panarin. Forget about Toews. Definitely forget about Keith and Seabrook. I’d be looking for ways to trade every last one of them, including Kane, and I’d be looking to tank the rest of this season and next season. Draft top 3 for a few years in a row. Add those pieces to our young defenseman, Strome, and Dcat and whatever additional prospects and picks we can accumulate over the next few years via trading the old core.
- SimpleJack

You'd likely have 4000 fans in the stands for about the next 4-5 seasons.

Why trade Toews? Hes looked great this year and can slide right into that Stevie Y role with Matthews as the Fedorov and Strome bum slaying everyone else. Lol.

My fantasy land scenario works better with Toews than without him and trading a forward with his skill set is silly.
- fattybeef

Yeah but toews is on the decline , sure he picked up his game this year , but ever since he got paid 3 years ago this is his first year he has actually come to play.

IMO I appreciate the loyalty thing but holding onto aging high paid players that are affecting the teams ability to get younger and competitive again doesn't work for most fans and the teams bottom line.

If Chicago had a great shot at Matthews who is 20 years old or keeping toews who is 31 years old the smart move is Matthews. Sure some people will be upset but if this team becomes a competitor again and starts winning all is forgiven.

You'd likely have 4000 fans in the stands for about the next 4-5 seasons.
- breadbag

Any idiot would be able to see the plan as soon as next season if we were to draft say Hughes and offload the old core for more future assets. You really think this fan base would abandon the team? The point is to rebuild and contend again ASAP. That’s how you fill up the seats.

Hate to be the realty check but no way Matthews is going to be a Hawk. Laine either.

Zero chance.

Dude....you’re joking right?

You honestly think adding one more player puts this team on the verge of making a playoff run?

Man...I can’t beli how naive some fans still are about our situation.

We are NEVER going to make the playoffs/contend again until we completely rebuild EVERYTHING. Going after another large contract to try and keeping the rest of the core is a ludicrous idea.

Add Panarin to this team and we’d go from being the worst team in the league to like the 7th or 8th worst team in the league. Which does absolutely nothing other than decrease our chances at drafting a major talent and slows down the speed at which we can rebuild.

No more pieces to add. Not unless they’re top picks or prospects. We need to forget about Kane and Panarin. Forget about Toews. Definitely forget about Keith and Seabrook. I’d be looking for ways to trade every last one of them, including Kane, and I’d be looking to tank the rest of this season and next season. Draft top 3 for a few years in a row. Add those pieces to our young defenseman, Strome, and Dcat and whatever additional prospects and picks we can accumulate over the next few years via trading the old core.
- SimpleJack

Slow down there with the personal attacks dude. Panarin+Kane gets Kane likely back to 90+ points and Panarin to 80+. Throw in a Toews+Saad line to shutdown opposing top lines, and a Strome+Debrincat line to provide some solid offense and you have a pretty solid top 9.

On D there are obviously massive holes to fill, but I don't think a D corp of:
Keith-Jokiharju
Free Agent-Forsling
Dahlstrom/Mitchell/Prospect-Seabrook

...is as bad as this current group is. There is help on the way from our D pipeline, and no they're not going to instantly become the 2013 Cup team, but it can't get much worse than it currently is.

So you now have a solid forward group, and below average but not disastrous D group, and a good goalie in Crawford. I think that can absolutely be a playoff team next year if things went right. Things change fast in the NHL, look at Colorado, Ottawa, New Jersey. All have had huge swings one way or the other in the last three years.

I'm still all in on tanking this year, it gives us the best chance at long term success in the coming years. But signing Panarin would be quite the difference maker. I'll ignore you calling me naive this time, you must be new here or something.

Yeah but toews is on the decline , sure he picked up his game this year , but ever since he got paid 3 years ago this is his first year he has actually come to play.

IMO I appreciate the loyalty thing but holding onto aging high paid players that are affecting the teams ability to get younger and competitive again doesn't work for most fans and the teams bottom line.

If Chicago had a great shot at Matthews who is 20 years old or keeping toews who is 31 years old the smart move is Matthews. Sure some people will be upset but if this team becomes a competitor again and starts winning all is forgiven.
- Taylorst1

Sure Matthews is a young talented guy, but you are gonna be looking at paying through the nose. On an offer sheet, you can give him what, 7 years max and probably then you are needing to make it 13 x 7 to get him. So you have to move Toews, plus someone else to cover the salary and give away your draft picks in the first round for the next several years.

Any idiot would be able to see the plan as soon as next season if we were to draft say Hughes and offload the old core for more future assets. You really think this fan base would abandon the team? The point is to rebuild and contend again ASAP. That’s how you fill up the seats.
- SimpleJack

People won't pony up to watch them lose with no star power left. There are still a ton of people that pay money to see the core of this team on the ice. You can rebuild, but you cut all the vets and you are back to the old days under Dollar Bill. You won't have leadership to teach the new guys how to win. It would be awful.

Hate to be the realty check but no way Matthews is going to be a Hawk. Laine either.

Zero chance.
- bhawks2241

Might even be less than zero. You might have found a new number that is even less.

Sure Matthews is a young talented guy, but you are gonna be looking at paying through the nose. On an offer sheet, you can give him what, 7 years max and probably then you are needing to make it 13 x 7 to get him. So you have to move Toews, plus someone else to cover the salary and give away your draft picks in the first round for the next several years.
- breadbag

Yeah but if you clear out toews 10.5 million your only talking a difference in salary of 3 million more for a guy who is 10 years younger and on the rise.

That would basically put Chicago in play for years to come .