Electrifying Panarin may play big role in Hawks' future

While players and fans are engrossed in the Blackhawks' attempt to claim a third Stanley Cup in six seasons, general manager Stan Bowman has also been busy fortifying the franchise's future.

Bowman, who took over the GM role in 2009, knows full well the salary-cap dilemma the Hawks are about to face this summer.

If nobody is moved, 11 players under contract would amount to an almost $62 million cap hit with the NHL likely setting the limit at somewhere in the $71 million to $73 million range. And that $62 million doesn't include 22-year-old Brandon Saad, a restricted free agent who will command big bucks.

So the always forward-looking Bowman signed Russian forward Artemi Panarin and Swedish defenseman Erik Gustafsson to two-year contracts three weeks ago. Panarin, whom Bowman told the Daily Herald is "a very exciting offensive player" with "dynamic skills," scored 26 goals and had 36 assists in the Kontinental Hockey League with SKA St. Petersburg, a team that won the Gagarin Cup as league champs.

"If people haven't seen him, he's an electrifying, offensive-type player," Bowman said. "Great moves, great speed, he can score goals, he can make plays. He's elusive. He's got a lot of talent."

Don't just take Bowman's word. Others are gushing over what the 23-year-old Panarin might bring to the Hawks.

"I've covered the KHL many years," tweeted Antti Makinen. "Panarin has been the best forward past 2 years. He'll be awesome for the bhawks."

Bowman admitted the Hawks will have to be patient as the Russian adapts to playing in the world's best league. Panarin also speaks limited English, and Bowman said the Hawks may or may not hire a translator, the theory behind not doing so being that it can sometimes hinder how fast a player picks up the language.

"There's a lot of Russians in the NHL and most of them don't speak English growing up," Bowman said. "We'll work with him on it and he's going to work at it. But it's going to be an adjustment. If you had to go to Russia for your job it would be like that - you kind of have to get used to how they do things there."

Panarin also was part of Russia's silver-medal winning team at the 2015 IIHF World Championships, which wrapped up Sunday. He appears to have a bit of spunk in him as well. Before defeating the United States 4-0 in the semifinals, Panarin said: "We're in a fighting mood to play the Americans. We need to teach those college kids a lesson."

As for Gustafsson, he's a left-shot defenseman who can play on the power play and likes to shoot the puck, according to Bowman. He finished tied for fifth among Swedish Hockey League defensemen with 29 points this season and was originally drafted by the Oilers in the fourth round of the 2012 draft.

"This past year he rounded out his game a little bit," Bowman said. "He added a little bit of physicality and bite to his game. I would characterize him as a well-rounded defenseman, but he's probably a little bit more on the offensive side."

Bowman likes the fact Panarin and Gustafsson (also 23) are almost in their mid-20s and more ready to step right into the NHL than players 4-5 years younger. When camp begins in September, there will be plenty of competition for coveted spots among those two, winger Ryan Hartman (37 points at Rockford this season), center Phillip Danault (38 points), defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk and Stephen Johns, and others.

"We have to have young players who are going to play bigger roles on our team in years to come," Bowman said. "We have a lot of internal candidates and now we've got some new guys into the mix who are candidates too.

"I think that's how you have to do it in the game today."