The Troubling And Unfair Times of Breadman Panarin

You wouldn't think that a fellow who was the hockey club's foremost scorer would be a problem, would You? (Well don't just stand there, gaping; give me an answer, please.)

The Maven's answer is that Artemi Panarin has metamorphosed from idol of the  crowd to "infant terrible" of the trade mongers; and I don't like it one tiny bit.

Think about it for just a minute; or even ten seconds. Just two seasons ago, he was a Hart (MVP) candidate.  

When others couldn't – or wouldn't – The Breadman played a full 82-game season. He scored 49 goals, added 71 helpers for a grand total of 120 points.

"He was a jewel among the forwards," says The Old Scout, "and almost averaged a point a game (16 games, 15 points) in the playoffs. His problem this past season was the team, not Breadman."

Since a battalion of shrinks couldn't cure the brooding Blueshirts' heads in 2024-25, Artemi couldn't also be expected to play defense – probably would have been better than half they had – or goal for that matter.

"All things considered this past season," adds The Old Scout, "you'd have to say that Artemi did his bit."

What he did was lead the Rangers in scoring with 37 goals, 52 assists and 89 points. The runner-up was J.T. Miller but we throw out his points since most were when he was a Canuck.

The genuine runners-up were Mika Zibanejad with 62 points and Vinnie Trocheck at 59 points. 

Imagine, Breadman had 27 big, fat points more than Z and 40 more than Trocheck, the odds on favorite to be the next Rangers captain.

And people want to trade Panarin? Nuts to that I say. I know, I know the old refrain, "He doesn't produce in the playoffs."

Oh, really, who does? The Man In The Moon.

And don't tell me he's not tough enough. One of the all-time greatest Rangers, Frank Boucher, won so many Lady Byng Trophies, the Lady, herself, said: "Here, Frankie, take the trophy home with you."

Nobody ever called for Hall of Famer Boucher to be traded. Coming off the Presidents' Trophy season, the Rangers featured what should have been a dynamite first line. Zibanejad centered Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière.

We know all about Z's Zzzzzz's. But how about Lafrenière who pulled off one of the top disappearing acts since Harry Houdini.

So, who's sorry now? Not Mika whose pillowcase is initialed NTC, as in No Trade Clause. And certainly not Big Al whose beard will be grey when his contract runs out.

And, if Breadman is as stale as some fans suggest, which GM will be suckered into dealing for a 33-year-old whose better days were, well, behind?

Fortunately there remain some citizens of Rangerville who see things clearly and see them whole. I have a David Stern in mind who wrote on X/Twitter that "Panarin still has two 100-plus seasons in him and those are points we need."