One of the biggest impending UFAs the Chicago Blackhawks could target is current New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin. The 33-year-old Russian star is entering the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract.
But once upon a time, Artemi Panarin was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. The club signed Panarin as an undrafted player in 2015. The move immediately paid dividends as he won the 2016 Calder Trophy.
The next move was a disaster for the Blackhawks. The club traded Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets after two seasons in a trade that failed to extend the Blackhawks’ window of contention.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Panarin is an impending UFA. If the Rangers fall flat for a second year in a row, the club could be compelled to move on from Panarin and recoup assets that could help in a retool-rebuild.
So, here’s what the Blackhawks could send to New York in exchange for Artemi Panarin:
Blackhawks get:
Artemi Panarin, F
Taylor Raddysh, F
Rangers get:
2026 first-round pick
2027 second-round pick
Ethan Del Mastro, D
The 2026 first-round pick would be the one originally belonging to the Florida Panthers. That’s the pick the Blackhawks got from Florida in the Seth Jones deal. The 2027 second-rounder could be a toss-up between Chicago’s own and the one originally belonging to the Vancouver Canucks.
The inclusion of Ethan Del Mastro would be something the Rangers could push for, that is, getting any sort of prospect as part of the trade.
The Blackhawks getting someone like Taylor Raddysh could be part of the Rangers’ desire to shed some salary as a potential move to clear up cap space for a star like Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid.
Why Adding Artemi Panarin Makes Sense for Blackhawks
Panarin and the Blackhawks are in much different places than they were in 2017. The Blackhawks were desperately trying to extend their window of contention while Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were still in town.
Meanwhile, Panarin hadn’t established himself as one of the elite wingers in the NHL. That situation made Panarin a valuable trade chip at the time.
But now, the Blackhawks are a rebuilding team, and Panarin is a superstar. Panarin’s addition would be a huge boost to a young Chicago core featuring young centers in Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. Panarin would instantly elevate Bedard or Nazar.
Panarin could finally become the face of the Chicago Blackhawks for the remainder of his career. It would be a fitting way to usher in the next phase of Panarin’s career.
Chicago Would Need to Extend Panarin
Trading for Artemi Panarin allows the Blackhawks to sign him to an eight-year deal. Since the new CBA doesn’t kick in until September 2026, the Blackhawks could still ink Panarin to a max-term deal.
Considering he’s 33, an eight-year pact would take Panarin to age 41. That’s still quite some time away. Panarin is still playing at a high level and could help lift the Blackhawks beyond the bottom of the Central Division.
Sure, the Blackhawks could bide their time until Panarin becomes a free agent. But the club has the assets to spare at the moment. That’s why it makes sense to use them in a deal that would signal to the team’s fan base that the rebuild is over.
