LongtimeLeafsufferer
Joined: Jul. 2015
Posts: 60,098
Likes: 23,018
If the Hawks cannot fit Panarin under the cap, there are few teams that can sign him for 6+, without sending money back to the Hawks. Boston might, Leafs might. But teams aren't going to "wreck" their teams and cap to sign one guy.
Would teams like Arizona or the Leafs trade a top five pick and all the financial benefits of a player on ELC for Panarin? Don't know. Would the Leafs and Bruins send just near NHL prospect and would the Hawks be happy with that return, which is not immediate in the results? Don't know
In the near past, the Hawks allowed UFAs to walk (like all teams) cause they can't afford to sign them. Panarin has a "R" in instead of a "U" in front of FA. Doesn't mean teams will pony up and give 100% value to the Hawks, and maybe the Hawks shouldn't be expecting it either, though it just takes one team to make an offer the Hawks can live with.