Richard Panik

History

2006-07: Panik split the season between HC Trinec's U-18 and U-20 teams in the Czech junior league. He scored 16 goals with 9 assists and 30 PIM in 27 regular season games and scored 1 goal with 4 assists and 6 PIM in four playoff games for the U-20 squad. In 12 games at the U-18 level, he scored 10 goals with 6 assists and had 48 PIM. Panik represented Slovakia at the WJC U-18 tournament and had two assists in six games.

2007-08: Panik made his pro debut with limited ice time in six Czech League games for HC Trinec but spent the majority of the season with HC Trinec's U-20 squad. He scored 35 goals with 27 assists and 70 PIM in 39 games for the U-20 squad. He again played for Slovakia at the WJC U-18 tournament and scored 4 goals with 6 assists in six games. Panik was selected in the first round (10th overall) of the CHL Import draft by the Kingston Frontenacs who traded his rights to the Windsor Spitfires (OHL).

2008-09: Panik split the season between HC Trinec in the Czech leagues and its U-20 team and was also played three games on loan with Havirov in the Czech second league. He scored his first pro goal and also had an assist and 4 PIM in 15 games with HC Trinic and scored 10 goals with 9 assists and 36 PIM in 16 games for the U-20 squad. In three games with Havirov he scored 2 goals with 1 assist. Panik played for Slovakia at the WJC U-20 tournament and scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was -1 with 4 PIM. Panik was ranked 13th among European skaters by Central Scouting for the 2009 NHL draft.

2009-10: Panik started his first season in North America with defending Memorial Cup champion Windsor in the OHL before being traded to Belleville in January in a multi-player deal. Panik scored 9 goals with 9 assists and was +15 with 19 PIM in 33 games for West division-leading Windsor before the trade. The move to Belleville prevented Panik from enjoying the Spitfires' second run to a Memorial Cup championship, but did allow him to see a lot more ice time, particularly on the power play, than he would have gotten in the star-studded Windsor lineup. Panik scored 12 goals, five of which came on the power play, with 11 assists and was -12 with 36 PIM in 27 games for the Bulls. With Belleville missing the playoffs, Panik joined the Lightning's AHL affiliate Norfolk and had 1 assist and was -1 in five games. Panik represented Slovakia in both the WJC U-20 and World Championship tournaments. Panik scored 6 goals, three on the power play, with 2 assists, 2 PIM and was an even plus/minus in six games for the U-20 team. At the World Championships in Germany, he had 2 assists and was +3 with 6 PIM.

2010-11: Panik split his second OHL season between Belleville and Guelph and was the leading scorer for Slovakia at the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship. Panik was the Bulls' leading scorer when he was traded to Guelph in December and finished the season with 27 goals and 29 assists in 51 games between the two teams. He played in six playoff games with the Storm and was -4 with 1 goal, 2 assists and 10 PMs. In six games for eighth-place Slovakia he scored 7 goals with 2 assists and was +1 with 12 PMs. Panik signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Tampa Bay in May, 2011.

Talent Analysis

Panik is a highly-skilled, offensively-gifted forward with the size and speed needed to be a constant scoring threat. Like many young goal scorers, he has not yet developed his game on the defensive end - and is inconsistent in that area. Panik gained valuable experience playing in his first year in North America last season as well as with Slovakia playing against pros at the World Championships. He is still growing and developing but is a very promising offensive forward.