BREAKING: Hawks planned for Panarin bonuses

When Chicago Blackhawks sniper Artemi Panarin earned a total of $2.575 million performance bonuses at the conclusion of the NHL’s regular season, many fans and analysts wondered aloud how the team would be able to pay their young player and fit his salary and bonuses under the NHL salary cap for next season.

Have no fear, Stan Bowman is here. The Blackhawks general manager has done a masterful job of managing the team’s contracts and balancing them with the salary cap since taking the job in 2009. It should come as no surprise then that Bowman has had a plan in place to address Panarin’s bonuses the entire time. 

Despite having $2.575 million less to work with next season, the Blackhawks are more than happy to pay Panarin for reaching his bonuses. Playing mostly alongside superstar Patrick Kane, Panarin finished tied for 10th among NHL forwards with 74 points this season. That earned him an additional $1.725 million…not bad. This is in addition to the $850,000 bonus that he clinched earlier in the season for finishing the season with more than 20 goals, 35 assists and 60 points. The 25 year-old Russian has maxed out his performance bonuses for the second consecutive season and looks poised to take his game to the next level as the Blackhawks renew their quest for another Stanley Cup this spring.