Blackhawks Allegedly Sign KHL Star Artem Panarin

Unless you’re new here, you know that I don’t like Russian hockey players. In the past 20 years there’s been one Russian to come over and play the right way. Datsyuk is a shining light for nation full of lazy, selfish, soft, highlight motivated pukes. The last Russian born member of the Blackhawks was Khabibulin. The team sucked for years and years with him as a goalie, then team let him walk in free agency and…POOF. Stanley Cups on Stanley Cups. #FactsOnly. Sure, I’ve been called a xenophobe, but the truth is I’m not. I honestly just feel America is the best country and all the other countries aren’t as good. That used to be called Patriotism.

Having said all of that…I am willing to give this Panera guy the benefit of the doubt. Undrafted kid who worked his way up to being the leading scorer on a KHL champion. Panera had 26 goals and 36 assists for SKA St. Petersburg. Compare that to his teammate Ilya Kovalchuk’s 25 goals and 30 assists. Pretty big time numbers in a good league. He also looks pretty sick in this highlight video

With Toews and Kane having their contract extensions kick in next season, the Blackhawks will be squeezed by the cap and will likely have to purge their roster…again. Bickell, Shaw, Oduya, Rozsival, Sharp, Kruger, and Crawford are all candidates to move on this summer so the Hawks need to fill out their roster with cheaper talent. Panera could fit the bill. I guess what I’m saying is…

So welcome to Chicago, Artie. Try not to be too Russian and ruin our dynasty.