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GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Artemi Panarin said he felt less pressure with the New York Rangers than when he had been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets more than two years ago.
"When I was exchanged for [the] Chicago [Blackhawks]I felt pressured, "Saturday told a translator, Saturday, through the intermediary of an interpreter, the Left, who signed a $ 81.5 million contract with the Rangers for a fee of $ 81.5 million, said: "I do not feel this pressure. "
This is the typical trend of professional athletes signing lucrative long-term contracts with New York teams, but Panarin's mentality comes from the feeling of finally settling in the NHL four years after his debut as a rookie of 23 years. years with Chicago in the 2015-16 season.
He spent his first two seasons with the Blackhawks after signing with them on May 1, 2015. These seasons were meant to prove his worth, which he did almost instantly by winning the Calder Trophy, elected elected rookie of the year by the NHL in 2015 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) in 80 games.
The Blackhawks rewarded Panarin with a two-year contract extension midway through the 2016-17 season, when he had 74 points (31 goals, 43 points) in 82 games. They then traded it to the Blue Jackets on June 23, 2017.
Panarin set the record in one season for the Blue Jackets with 82 points (27 goals, 55 assists) in 81 games in 2017-18 and broke the record with 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) in 79 games last season, when he also helped in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time.
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All of this prepared him for his big pay on July 1 and the chance to feel like a long-term fix for the first time in his NHL career.
"Everything is better than I expected," said Panarin, who arrived in New York three weeks ago.
The next challenge for Panarin is to win in chemistry with his expected companions, in the center Mika Zibanejad and right wing Pavel Buchnevich, a Russian compatriot who plays the role of translator on ice and Panarin's bench.
The new Rangers selection was visible in the first of three practice sessions on Saturday. They did not do a lot of line jumping, but they communicated a lot.
"It's important to build that chemistry at the hockey level," said Panarin. "We have everything we need for that."
Zibanejad said that he already knew how to love Panarin's very open play style and that he thought he could arrange with his own, especially because he thought that it would allow him to organize and shoot more often instead of trying to be a playmaker.
"It's good to hold the puck and find those small areas to play," Zibanejad said. "I think for me, it's a bit treated as if we were playing with [Mats Zuccarello] last year. This is an excellent smuggler. He also has a great picture, so I think for me, it's just to be open and maybe put me in a shooting role. "
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Zibanejad has recorded career highs in the NHL with 30 goals, 44 assists and 74 points last season.
"Everyone likes to score goals, and if you have a guy like [Panarin] and you have a guy like [Buchnevich] By performing these games, you have to make sure to put it at the bottom of the net, said Zibanejad. I do not mind scoring goals as long as we win.
In addition to the language barrier, Zibanejad said the challenge of playing with Panarin was still waiting for the unexpected. He said that he had learned it by playing against him.
"It's unpredictable," said Zibanejad. "You do not really know what he's going to do, he can really shoot, he can pass, he can take you one-on-one, it's hard, and I think to play with him." You must always be ready He does not always show when he will pass or rarely, so just be ready for it and get ready for the shots and rebounds that will come out. "
If the chemistry of the top line announces as the Rangers predict, coach David Quinn said that it would relieve New York's young avant-garde, like the teenage rookie, the right wing . Kaapo Kakko, 18 and Vitali KravtsovCenter of 19 and 20 years Filip Chytil.
Chytil and Kakko started their camp on the second line with the left wing Chris Kreider .
"The presence of Panarin from the start gives us a real first line," Quinn said. "When you have a line like that, the load on the other three lines is lightened and they take a lot of pressure off the other three lines."
Panarin should also be an engine of culture in New York because of its competitiveness and intelligence, two areas specifically mentioned by Rangers President John Davidson, president of the Blue Jackets for the past six seasons.
Davidson said New York players would be attracted to Panarin because of everyone.
"Really competitive," said Davidson. "He likes to find solutions in big games." "That's, I would say, a maintenance-free guy." In other words, he's a guy who will show up for work every day You do not have to worry about him. "
Photo Courtesy: Nick Homler / NYRangers.com
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