The Washington Capitals have found their third-line right wing.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Caps will sign Richard Panik to a four-year deal worth over $2.5 million per season.
Earlier in the evening, it was reported that Brett Connolly will be signing a four-year deal with the Florida Panthers.
Sounds like Richard Panik will be heading to WSH on a four-year contract. AAV could be somewhere north of $2.5M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019
Panik, 28, had 14 goals and 33 points for the Arizona Coyotes last season. He’s three seasons removed from scoring a career-high 22 goals during the 2016-17 campaign – the only time he’s eclipsed the 20-goal plateau.
Hockeyviz rates Panik as a slightly above-average bottom-six forward without a signficant defensive upside. According to Natural Stat Trick, Panik spent nearly 90 minutes on the penalty kill for the Coyotes last season, but was used sparingly in that role in previous years.
Evolving Hockey projected Panik would sign a deal for four years at $4.8 million per. The deal McKenzie reported is for far lower.
Update, July 1: The deal is official.
Richard Panik @Capitals 4 / $10M #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019
The Capitals have announced the move. Panik will make $2.75 million per season.
From the Capitals:
The Washington Capitals have signed right wing Richard Panik to a four-year, $11 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Panik’s contract will carry an average annual value of $2.75 million.
Panik, 28, recorded 33 points (14g, 19a) in 75 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season, ranking sixth on the team in points. The 6’1″, 208-pound forward ranked first on Arizona in shot attempt percentage (50.96 percent), on-ice shot attempts per 60 minutes played (60.84), on-ice goals for (44) and goals for per 60 minutes of play (2.71) at five-on-five among players with at least 50 games played. Additionally, the Martin, Slovakia, native ranked first in goals percentage relative to his teammates (0.99 percent) and second in shot attempt percentage relative to his teammates (2.80 percent).
In 410 career games between the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona, Panik has recorded 159 points (75g, 84a).
Panik has recorded at least 33 points in each of the last three seasons, setting a career high with 44 points (22g, 22a) during the 2016-17 season with Chicago.
Panik represented Slovakia at the 2019 IIHF World Championships, recording seven points (1g, 6a) in seven games. Panik has represented Slovakia at the World Championships four times (2010, 2014, 2015, 2019) and at the 2014 Olympic Games, recording 11 points (1g, 10a) in 31 games.
Panik was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round, 52nd overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
