Rangers coach Peter Laviolette points out that Artemi Panarin’s outstanding season, which rivals the performances of few players in New York Rangers history, isn’t astonishing to him or others. Laviolette emphasizes Panarin’s sustained brilliance over nine NHL seasons, especially since joining the Rangers in the 2019-20 season with a significant contract.
Laviolette emphasized that while this year holds particular significance for him, Panarin’s remarkable statistics over the past seven or eight years reflect a consistent level of excellence. The recent four-point performance in a win against the Montreal Canadiens further underscored Panarin’s exceptional talent and ongoing success.
Laviolette undersells that one point, just a bit. It hasn’t been a really good season for Panarin, it’s been among the best in Rangers history.
Laviolette’s statement about Panarin’s benchmark year acknowledges the significance of his performance, but perhaps downplays it slightly. Panarin’s season isn’t just good; it’s historically exceptional for the Rangers.
At 32, Panarin has achieved an NHL career-high of 115 points with four games left in the regular season. This places him second in Rangers history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr’s franchise record of 123 set in 2005-06. Such achievement puts Panarin in esteemed company, joining a select group of players in Rangers history who have reached the 100-point milestone.
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According to Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, Artemi Panarin’s exceptional performance this season is not an anomaly but rather a reflection of his consistent excellence throughout his nine-year NHL career, particularly since joining the Rangers in 2019. Laviolette highlighted Panarin’s remarkable statistics over the past several years, emphasizing that his current stellar season is a testament to his enduring quality rather than a stroke of luck. Panarin’s record-breaking performance this season, including reaching an NHL career-high of 115 points with four games left in the regular season, places him among the elite in Rangers history. Despite trailing behind only three players in the league’s scoring race, Panarin’s outstanding season is characterized by his increased emphasis on shooting, leading to a career-best 46 goals, and his continued prowess as a playmaker with 69 assists. Overall, Panarin’s performance this season speaks volumes about his status as an elite player in the NHL.
But to Laviolette’s point, Panarin has been consistently great since winning the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015-16. As a 24-year-old, Panarin scored 30 goals that first season and had 77 points in 80 games. He4’s averaged fewer than one point per game only one time since, and that was his sophomore season with the Blackhawks (74 points in 82 games).
Since the 2017-18 season, Panarin ranks fifth in NHL scoring and has an average of 1.24 points per game, placing him fifth among all NHL players. Only McDavid, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, and Kucherov have been more productive. Additionally, Panarin is third in assists during this period with 424, trailing only McDavid and MacKinnon. Laviolette noted that Panarin has consistently performed at an elite level offensively, with this season being particularly standout, showcasing his sustained excellence over time.
But to Laviolette’s point, Panarin has been consistently great since winning the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015-16. As a 24-year-old, Panarin scored 30 goals that first season and had 77 points in 80 games. He4’s averaged fewer than one point per game only one time since, and that was his sophomore season with the Blackhawks (74 points in 82 games).
