It’s almost rare nowadays to see the Chicago Blackhawks lose a trade. General manager Stan Bowman is usually quite a mastermind at getting all he can out of deals to bring in a veteran piece or shuffle the deck with a lineup that isn’t working right.
Morning Skate: Artemi Panarin’s acquisition has paid off big time for the Columbus Blue Jackets
Panarin has wasted no time dominating the scoresheet in Columbus.
Artemi Panarin, however, might just be the one that got away from the Blackhawks. Since Panarin joined the Columbus Blue Jackets this past offseason in a trade that sent Brandon Saad back to Chicago, the 26-year-old former Calder Trophy winner has been sensational in the team’s top six.
While the Blue Jackets lost to the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Thursday evening, Panarin was at it again for Columbus. The winger netted the team’s only goal, and it was quite the beauty on the power play, to bring his totals up to 12 goals and 37 points in 45 games on the season.
You love hockey. You love SB Nation. You love reading hockey at SB Nation. Search your feelings. You know these things are true. But life’s too busy to browse the whole network for news. So we’ll send hockey news to your inbox every morning. All you need to do is subscribe.
Lace ’em up. Time for the Morning Skate.
Panarin currently isn’t on pace to shatter his totals from his previous years in Chicago, but his addition to the Blue Jackets’ lineup has been a welcome spark after the departure of Sam Gagner and his 50 points. Much has been made of the staunch Metropolitan Division this season, but Panarin’s been a key cog for the Blue Jackets in keeping them at second place behind the Washington Capitals.
Time will tell if the Blackhawks end up truly regretting trading away a dynamic offensive piece, as Saad has just 23 points in 43 games for Chicago, but Columbus is certainly getting another stellar season out of the former Calder winner.
More hockey
- The Carolina Hurricanes have a new owner, as Dallas businessman Thomas Dundon will now take over the team.
- The Buffalo Sabres haven’t found a way to fix their team defense, and it’s becoming an issue.
- Tampa Bay may have lost defenseman Victor Hedman to injury after taking a hard hit to the knee.
- Should the Colorado Avalanche be buyers at the trade deadline?
- On the flip side, the Nashville Predators should do nothing at the trade deadline.
See More:
