You could maybe call Richard Panik perfect to start the season.
He has six goals in six games, the latest a game-tying goal with just under a minute and a half to go. What’s not to love about that? And apparently he’s, uh, channeling Martin Havlat?
Via the Elias Sports Bureau:
Since 1995-96, the only other Chicago player to average at least one goal per team game over the Blackhawks’ first six games of a season was Martin Havlat in 2006-07 (seven goals).
Havlat did get off to a hot start for his first season in Chicago: he had 10 goals in his first nine games, and ultimately finished with a 25-goal season (and 57 points, for good measure). Is the same fate in store for Panik?
Well, maybe not; six of nine of Panik’s shots have gone in for a 66.67 shooting percentage. For reference, Panik’s career shooting percentage is 13.8%, so this probably isn’t going to keep up – not unless he starts getting the puck on net a whole lot more. A loooot more.
But it’s kind of awesome to see Panik come back and burn his old team, especially right before quotes like this…
Babcock on Richard Panik: “We didn’t have the same value for him as the Hawks do & he’s proving them right” pic.twitter.com/LyL7Ffsi7q
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 22, 2016
… and then, you know, game-tying goals.
It may not keep up, but it’s been a fun ride so far – and a productive one, and that’s what matters.