UPDATE: Shortly after this article was published, the NHL made an official scoring change, which removed one of Panarin’s secondary assists from last night’s game. While it remains a multi-point game for the Blackhawks’ rookie, it’s not quite Teemu-like anymore.
OFFICIAL SCORING CHANGE: Game #1196 – @ArizonaCoyotes at @NHLBlackhawks. Goal at 12:17 of 2nd per. now reads Ladd from van Riemsdyk, Toews.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 6, 2016
Artemi Panarin’s Calder Trophy case got a little stronger Tuesday night, as the 24-year-old recorded his third straight 3-point night during the Blackhawks’ 6-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.
Panarin registered three assists during the game, adding to the two goals and four points he picked up in Winnipeg on Friday and the goal and four points he scored against the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
He becomes the first rookie skater to achieve the feat since Teemu Selanne in 1992-93.
Signed as a free agent last summer, Panarin now has 28 goals and 75 points in 78 games for Chicago this season, placing him second in team scoring behind Patrick Kane and first among NHL rookies in both goals and points.
While the franchise is undoubtedly pleased with his on ice success, it could cause them problems off it.
Panarin will unlock a $1.725-million bonus if he finishes inside the top ten NHL scorers in goals, assists, points or points-per-game. His recent eleven-point streak now sees him tied for seventh in league scoring and having to pay Panarin the bonus would put the Blackhawks over the salary cap for the year.
Per General Fanager, if Chicago do breach the salary cap ceiling this year as a result of the bonus, it would mean the club would have an estimated $2.64-million overage applied to their cap next season.
The wider implications of this are that Chicago may be unable to re-sign some free agents in the off season, notably Andrew Shaw, due to the cap crunch.
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