COLUMBUS, Ohio — It wasn’t one of those returns filled with vitriol. But it was a reminder of exactly what the Rangers got, and what the Blue Jackets lost.
That would be Artemi Panarin, the electric winger who fled Columbus this summer after two seasons to sign a seven-year, $81.5 million free-agent deal with the Rangers. He made his first return here as a member of the Blueshirts on Thursday night, and notched a goal during his new team’s 3-2 win.
The Rangers (14-10-3) have been enamored with Panarin since the moment he showed up, and he has been consistency excellent during their generally streaky season thus far.