Coming into last night’s game with the Blue Jackets, Blackhawks fans have been pining for Artemi “the Bread Man” Panarin to rejoin the Blackhawks. Panarin is a free agent at the end of this season and has mentioned that he would entertain offers from various teams, including the Blackhawks. In his two seasons with the Hawks, he and Patrick Kane had chemistry that is difficult to find. Their ability to feed off of one another reminds hockey fans of Gretzky and Kurry or Ovechkin and Backstrom. It’s no wonder Hawks fans want to see Panarin back in the Madhouse. For those fans who want Panarin back in the fold, this game solidified that desire as Panarin recorded a multi-point game.

Before the Hawks go crazy and sign Panarin to a multi-year, most likely $9 million per year contract, management needs to pump the brakes. Would Panarin add to the offensive production of this team? Of course. Do the Hawks need it? That’s the important question. As of Saturday night’s game with the Blue Jackets, the Blackhawks are ranked ninth in the league in goals per game with 3.26 goals per game. Certainly, ninth in the league is workable if you have any kind of defense.

And therein lies the problem. While the Hawks are ninth in goals for, they are second to last in the league in goals against. The Blackhawks are giving up 3.64 goals per game. That is over a goal per game worse than the best defensive team in the league, Boston. The Blackhawks are also giving up 35.4 shots per game- again, second worst in the league. To make matters worse, the Blackhawks are dead last in the penalty kill.

So that begs the question, why are the fans chomping at the bit to bring back the Bread Man? Surely, Hawks fans love Panarin. All fans love offense and Panarin is a producer. Plus, fans remember the chemistry and Art Ross trophy for Kane while playing with Panarin. Who wouldn’t want these two back together?

Well, this writer. While I love Panarin, I am more interested in the big picture. Kane is playing at the same level as he did two years ago with Panarin. To accomplish this, Coach Jeremy Colliton placed him on a line with Captain Jonathan Toews and scrappy winger Drake Caggiula. (Caggiula was a great pick up for General Manager Stan Bowman) This is a cheaper solution and has been great for Toews’ game.

Moreover, Alex DeBrincat is continuing his progression as a superstar in this league. Brandon Saad is returning to his former self, bringing a gritty game with some speed. And, Dylan Strome, another great pickup for Bowman, has been excellent since coming over from Arizona. His chemistry with DeBrincat has continued from his days in Eerie. Colliton is coming into his own as a coach, and seems to be able to develop young talent. (Perhaps the Hawks should pick up Jesse Puljujarvi from Edmonton. They don’t know what to do with him- should be perfect for the Hawks.)

If the offense isn’t the problem, the Hawks need to focus on defense. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are here for the next five years, so that is just a given. Connor Murphy is becoming our best shut down defender. Erik Gustafsson adds to our offense, but is a serious defensive liability. Dahlstrom, Forsling, and Koekkoek are not the answer. Young prospects Henri Jokiharju and Adam Boqvist have great potential, but aren’t slam dunks at this point. As Keith and Seabrook slide, the Hawks will have to find defensive stalwarts to play on the first line.

If the Blackhawks are to take the next step back into contention, they must concern themselves with defense instead of adding another offensive player. In this latest game with the Blue Jackets, Panarin showed why he would be great with the Hawks, but lapses by Gustafsson, Slater Koekkoek, and Carl Dahlstrom illustrate why the Hawks desperately need a better defensive corps. Maybe instead of talking about Panarin, Hawks fans should be talking about Erik Karlsson who is also a free-agent at the end of the year.

Yeah, Karlsson is unlikely, but the Hawks need to get serious about shoring up the defense, even if it includes a trade at the expense of offense. As long as the Hawks have Kane, Chicago will be fine in the offensive end. Whomever Kane plays with, he makes better, plus his chemistry with Toews and Caggiula should be allowed to continue.

There aren’t a lot of defensive players who will be available in free agency, so Bowman will have to be creative in a trade. It’s unlikely to happen by the trade deadline, so fans will have to wait until the summer. So, while it is an unpopular decision, the Hawks need to forego the sexy pickup and let Panarin go to another team. It’s time to rebuild the defense and prepare for a playoff run in the future.

I am a 1993 graduate from Indiana University. I have been a teacher, athletic director and assistant principal for the past 20 years. I write for Sports Media Pass and Break the Fourth covering the Indiana Hoosiers, MMA, Music and Comics.