Panik is getting much more ice time this year than at anytime in the past because someone has to play right wing with Toews (and they don't want to play Kane there), and he will get many more points due to that than anything about him. Without Toews, he is still a 30 point guy. Same with Panarin, if he ever doesn't play with Kane, watch his points drop. Panik is NOT a diamond in the rough, he is a 3rd line/4th line guy playing with the best center on the planet not named Crosby.
As for the cap, I get your hate as a Blackhawks fan. My own team is going to have massive decisions to make next year and will have to do what Chicago has been doing.