While he is not officially off the team as of this writing, Artemi Panarin’s time as a New York Ranger is coming to an end. The team is holding him out of the lineup until a trade is made, which could happen in the next few days or closer to the March 6 trade deadline. He had a nice run over his last seven seasons in New York, and in this piece, we are going to recap the top five moments from Panarin’s Rangers tenure.
#5: His Desire to Play for the Rangers During Their Rebuilding Years
Before signing in New York, the Rangers were a team in the midst of a rebuild. They had already traded away many of their key veterans and had just drafted Kaapo Kakko second overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. When free agency came around that summer, the key name on the market was Panarin, and it was rumored at the time that one of the places he wanted to play was in New York with the Rangers.
It came down to them and the Islanders, and Panarin took less money to play for the Blueshirts. He was the superstar the team was looking for, and it helped accelerate a rebuild that was already going well at the time.
#4: His 49-Goal, 120 Point Campaign During the 2023-24 Season
Panarin was facing lots of criticism going into the 2023-24 season. He was coming off a playoff run that saw him record one point in a seven-game series loss to the New Jersey Devils, and fans were beginning to question if Panarin was the right star to lead this team. He answered those critics by having the best regular season of his career, scoring 49 goals and recording 120 points.
Panarin helped lead the Rangers to their best regular season in franchise history, which ended with them winning the Presidents’ Trophy. While the team came up short in the Eastern Conference Final, it was amazing to see the run Panarin went on that season, and it proved that he was worth every dollar of his contract.
#3: Game 3 Overtime Winner vs. Hurricanes in 2024 Second Round
Speaking of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Rangers started off extremely hot. They swept the Washington Capitals in the first round and had a 2-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Heading into Carolina for Game 3, many thought the Hurricanes would take this game and get back into the series.
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The Hurricanes tied the game late in the third period to send it to overtime, but it was the Rangers who came out on top thanks to Panarin. He scored the overtime winner on a deflection, and it gave the Rangers the win and a 3-0 series lead. This meant they started the playoffs 7-0, and it was an amazing moment to watch as it felt like the team was going on a magical run, and Panarin was a big factor in that magic.
#2: Overtime Winner vs. Islanders in 2024 NHL Stadium Series
The Rangers faced off against the Islanders at MetLife Stadium for the 2024 NHL Stadium Series. It was a back-and-forth affair, with the Islanders having a 4-1 lead early in the second period before the Rangers cut it to 4-3 as the third period began. The Isles scored to make it 5-3, but two late goals for the Rangers with the goalie pulled meant this game was heading to overtime.
It didn’t take long as Panarin intercepted a pass off the opening faceoff and put the puck in the net as the Islander player knocked the net off. After a review, it was determined to be a good goal, and Panarin put a stamp on one of the best comebacks in NHL outdoor games history.
#1: Game 7 Overtime Winner vs. Penguins in 2022 First Round
The greatest moment of Panarin’s time in New York came during the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the first time the team had been back in the playoffs since the rebuild began in 2018, and they were matched up against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They found themselves down 3-1 in the series, but fought back to force Game 7 back at Madison Square Garden.
The game went into overtime, and the Rangers ended up on a critical power play. Adam Fox passed the puck to Panarin, whose shot found its way into the net, and it sent MSG into a frenzy. It is a moment that Rangers fans will never forget, and it is without a doubt the greatest moment Panarin had as a Ranger.
While Panarin never led the Rangers to a Stanley Cup like many hoped he would, he is still the best free agent signing in franchise history and will go down as one of the best offensive players the franchise has ever seen. He was an amazing player to watch for the past seven seasons, and while his time in New York may be over, he had many moments that will last in Rangers fans’ minds for years to come.
