Blackhawks' Artemi Panarin is the best value in the NHL

Blackhawks rookie Artemi Panarin has been money in the bank for Chicago this season … literally.

According to hockeyscap.com, Panarin is the best value in the NHL at $54,000 per point.

On an entry-level deal with a cap hit of $812,500, Panarin has 15 points this season on four goals and 11 assists.

He’s followed on the list by Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau (17 points at $54,412 per), the Rangers’ Oscar Lindberg (11 points at $59,091 per), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (14 points at $66,071 per) and Florida’s Vincent Trocheck (10 points at $66,167 per).

Among players who have registered at least one point this season, Columbus’ David Clarkson’s was the most expensive, costing the Blue Jackets $5.25 million right now.

Among Blackhawks players, Bryan Bickell ($4 million cap hit) and Marcus Kruger ($1.5 million cap hit) have been the worst values. Bickell was recently sent down to AHL Rockford, taking his cap hit down to $3.05 million.

Neither player has registered an NHL point this season.

Panarin, 24, has made his transition from the KHL to the NHL look easy.

He scored this dandy of a goal last night:

[FBTW]