The Chicago Blackhawks have signed forward Richard Panik to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is a one-way contract worth $975,000, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.
He is a nice low-cost forward for general manager Stan Bowman. The cost effectiveness of the pact looms large on a day when the Blackhawks had yet another cap casualty, trading Teuvo Teravainen to Carolina in a deal that offloaded Bryan Bickell’s contract.
Panik was acquired by the Blackhawks in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs that sent Jeremy Morin to the Leafs. Up to that point Panik had spent the entire season in the AHL with the Marlies.
After joining the Blackhawks, the 25-year-old winger was given a chance to play up the lineup getting time with some of the team’s top forwards. The results were mixed, but he proved to be an effective depth forward on a team that needs some roster players with cap hits under a million to perform. Panik fits the bill.
He finished last season with six goals and eight points in 30 games for Chicago. He also managed to not be a drag on possession, posting a 0.23% adjusted CF%Rel. In the postseason, he put up three assists in six contests.
