Panarin recorded 151 points over his first two seasons with the Blackhawks, which tied him for 7th in league scoring. There’s nothing to suggest he’ll slow down much — especially if he were to continue playing with Patrick Kane — so he’d undoubtedly be in line for a raise a couple years from now. Saad still has four years left on his deal at a reasonable price of $6 million per so the Blackhawks get more cost certainty. That’s important for perennial contenders.
