Observations:

January 2016 – Through 53 games of his inaugural NHL campaign, Panarin has been everything the Blackhawks could have hoped for and more. He lead all NHL rookies in goals, assists and points, and trails only linemate Patrick Kane in points on a loaded Blackhawks' roster. It will be interesting to see how he holds down the stretch and into the playoffs, as he is accustomed to the shorter seasons played in the KHL. Still, Panarin has proved doubters wrong at every turn and remains the favourite to win the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year. Matt Donohue

October 2015 – Unlike the majority European import signings, Panarin has quickly established himself as a potent offensive player despite missing the majority of preseason. Besides being ultra skilled, confident and slippery in possession, Panarin is also very competitive and fearless (which might prove to be bad in the long haul as injuries are a possibility) – two factors crucial to surviving as an undersized skilled player in the NHL.. In a Calder class featuring McDavid and Eichel, Panarin is the one “rookie” that could give these two a run for their money. Skating with one of the league’s all-time best playmakers in Patrick Kane certainly won’t hurt. Brendan Ross

May 2015 – An undrafted free agent out of Russia, Panarin has taken some time to develop overseas in the KHL, but it appears he has come into his own at 23 years of age. Over the last two seasons with St. Petersburg SKA, Panarin has put up 46 goals and 102 points in 105 games to lead the team in scoring over that span. Keep in mind that his teammate is some guy named Ilya Kovalchuk – making that feat all the more impressive. His gaudy KHL production caught the eyes of NHL scouts, and in April he signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Blackhawks. Over the years, we have seen a number of prospects come over from the KHL, with varying degrees of success. Just last year we saw Jori Lehtera make a smooth transition to life in the NHL’s tough Western Conference with the Blues. At just 5-11 and 170 lbs, Panarin may face some issues with the physicality of the NHL. Still, he has proven that he has the ability to put the puck in the net, and reminds some of Patrick Kane with his style of play. Panarin is currently representing Russia at the World Championships for the first time, and has four goals and five assists in just six games

Panarin is an intriguing prospect for a number of reasons. He is still just 23 years-old, and with the upcoming cap-crunch coming in Chicago, the Blackhawks are going to need to fill holes with cheaper guys like Panarin. Of course it, the NHL is a different game but 46 goals over two seasons in the KHL automatically puts him on our radar. Though unlikely, he will probably need to secure a top-six role out of camp to avoid spending some time in the AHL to begin the 2015-16 season. Matt Donohue

Fantasy Outlook B+

Has been lights out through the first half of his NHL career and should be a fantasy force for years to come.

Footage:

A highlight video of Panarin’s time in the KHL:

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