The last player to accomplish something similar was Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who accounted for two points or more in the first six games of the 2021-22 season.
The 32-year-old Panarin, who seems to be aging like a fine wine, posted career bests in goals (49) and points (120) last season – and seems determined to further that record this season. Good news for the Rangers, whose commitment to winning the Stanley Cup in the near term is clear.
And of course the window to win is open. Wide open, even. With players like Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Igor Shesterkin all in the prime of their careers and young, talented key players like Adam Fox and Alexis Lafrenière who keep getting better, the Rangers have an excellent opportunity to win their first title since 1994. given the ages of some of the key players, it is also understood that it is now or within the next few years that it will happen – something that Panarin seems to have taken notice of.
Panarin, who arrived in the NHL via the Chicago Blackhawks first as a 24-year-old, has so far not averaged under a point per game since his first two seasons in the league; 2015-16 and 2016-17. But even then, brand new to the league, he posted 77 and 74 points, respectively, surpassing the 30-goal mark on both occasions.
That he has since only continued to get better – and especially that his best seasons seem to come on the “wrong side” of the 30 mark – is rare in the NHL context.
Against the Red Wings, a large part of the Russian’s brilliance came in the power play, where he recorded three (2+1) of the evening’s four points.
– It is a special player we see, who does special things, said Vincent Trocheck about Panarin.
Trocheck, who found a very special chemistry with Panarin and third link Lafrenière in the second half of last season, also accounted for four points (1+3) in the victory over Detroit.
– He (Panarin) makes our power play significantly more lethal just by being on the ice. He’s always dangerous when he has the puck on his stick, which in turn makes it easier for the rest of us. It opens up surfaces on the ice.
Right now, however, it doesn’t seem to matter whether the form of play is numerically superior, inferior or five-on-five – Panarin still finds a way to write himself into the scoring record. The chain together with Trocheck and Lafrenière, who of course received continued trust from coach Peter Laviolette this season as well, is one of the league’s deadliest by far. And the Rangers just keep picking up points and picking up wins in the preseason.
Above all, Panarin seems to have a clear goal in mind. A goal spelled Stanley Cup. That bodes well for this year’s edition of the New York Rangers.
