Former NHL enforcer Stu Grimson believes that Artemi Panarin is the second-best wing in the NHL.
Panarin had one of the best seasons in the NHL season in 2023-24, finishing fourth in hockey in scoring, fifth in goals (49) and fifth in assists (71). The winger’s 120 points were three shy of Jaromir Jagr’s single-season franchise record of 123 points set in 2005-06.
“A couple of my notables, you might say. I had Panarin at the number two. No knock on Matthew Tkachuk, but he did have a bit of an off year this year, and I really thought it was important to pay homage to Panarin for his 120-point campaign, a brilliant year in his own right.”
Stu Grimson on NHL Network abotu New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin
Panarin is one of seven players to record 100 points in a single season for the New York Rangers. Thus, it was surprising to see him only at five. Many expected him to be ranked higher.
So, it was shocking to see that Panarin was ranked fifth in NHL Network’s annual rankings of top wingers. Panarin received three first-place votes for the Hart Trophy, finishing the year in consideration for MVP. You have to imagine if he broke Jagr’s mark of 123 points or at least tied he probably is one of the finalists.
Once the initial rankings were released, host Jamison Coyle asked NHL Network Analyst Stu Grimson about the Top-20 wingers list he compiled. Grimson still had Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning at number one, but he moved Panarin up to number two because of the season he had.
Just look at his consistency since coming into the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. All he does is put up points in the regular season. And he was finally rewarded with a 100-point campaign. Something that could have happened during one of the COVID-shortened seasons.
He scored 95 points in 2019-20 in 69 games and 58 points in 42 games in 2021-22, prorated over 82 games, for a total of 113 points. Finally, Panarin broke through the 100-point barrier—not just crossing it; he shattered it.
“While dabble across the line. Inch across that line when you can bust through the ceiling. Three 90-point seasons across his career. Two 80-point seasons across his career,” Grimson said on NHL Network. “And if you weren’t believing then you know that this was superhero status. Artemi Panarin, “The Breadman,” like we said, just shatters the ceiling with a 120-point campaign.”
Remarkably, NHL Network had four players: Kucherov (No. 1), Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers (No. 2), Mikko Rantanen of the Avalanche (No. 3), and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins (No. 4), who was first last summer ahead of him.
No disrespect to these players, but Panarin was a big reason why the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Metro Division with 114 points. Not to mention how he makes his linemates better by driving a line as a winger. Not too many ahead of him can do that.
“Again, he’s got that unique flair to him, the skating ability, I think, is an important part of why he’s able to drive line/team in the way that he does,” Grimson said on NHL Network. “But again, the equipment to do highly skilled things while playing at a very high tempo, a unique talent across our game, and astonishing in this respect, 120-point season. And would you believe there’s four guys ahead of him on this list?”
Heading into next season, there are expectations that Panarin’s consistency will propel him to the top five, with Alexis Lafreniere appearing on NHL Network’s list, too.
