Former Blackhawks star hushes critics with recent play as of late for the New York Rangers
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After a slow start to the year, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin, now with the New York Rangers, is beginning to heat up.
It was a slow start to the season for New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who began his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks before a stunning trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017.
But now he's starting to turn up the heat with five points (3G, 2A) in his last five games after he decided to shave his head once again to switch things up; he even joked he'd start using a left-handed stick of a teammate if that didn't work.
Per Blackhawks analyst Michael DeRosa, this will be key to the Rangers' playoff chances after the team started very slowly, especially at home.
"If the Rangers hope to turn things around from their slow start to the 2025-26 season, they will need Panarin to continue to produce offense like this. He certainly is capable of doing so, as he has produced over a point per game in each of his last eight NHL seasons."
Artemi Panarin Is Playing In A Contract Year
After Panarin became a UFA in 2019, he decided to go for the bright lights and big stage of Manhattan and signed a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers.
He's helped the Rangers to two separate appearances in the ECF, but the Rangers have yet to qualify for the SCF, which they haven't done since 2014.
Panarin is playing in the last year of his contract, and per most indications, he doesn't appear to be willing to take a team-friendly discount on whatever his next contract is.
Whether or not that means he'll be able to fit in with the Rangers' financial plans going forward beyond this year remains to be seen, and the longer he goes without a deal in New York, the more that Blackhawks fans will have their hope rise that he could rejoin the Windy City.
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