Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks visit Predators

The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to officially announce a contract extension with Artemi Panarin on Thursday morning. Later in the day, the Hawks will play the first half of a road back-to-back in Nashville.

HAWKS

**Panarin’s re-signing will force more moves (SCH)

**Panarin agrees to 2-year, $12 million extension (SCH)

**Evaluating every major Hawks transaction from 2016 (SCH)

**Week Ahead: Hawks visit Teravainen, Hurricanes to close out 2016 (SCH)

**Prospect breakdown: Dennis Gilbert (The Athletic)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**RECAP: Fabbri gets first NHL hat trick in Blues win (NHL.com)

**Blues’ stellar victory sets tone for exciting week in St. Louis (STLToday)

**At 21, Nikita Zadorov learning on the job with Avs – sometimes the hard way (Denver Post)

NHL

**RECAP: Marner scores shootout winner for Leafs against Panthers (Pension Plan Puppets)

**RECAP: Fleury helps Penguins rally past Hurricanes (Pensburgh)

**RECAP: Johnson scores OT winner for Lightning over Canadiens (Raw Charge)

**RECAP: Miller, Canucks hold off Kings (Nucks Misconduct)

**Lightning sign first-rounder Howden to ELC (Raw Charge)

**Kings place Toffoli on injured reserve (PHT)

**Penguins’ Dumoulin to miss 4-6 weeks after surgery for broken jaw (PHT)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Hockey East stars shine in Team’s USA win over Slovakia (SBNCH)