When Artemiy Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million deal with the New York Rangers this summer, there were critics who immediately screamed “OVERPAID.” Just four months into the deal and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Panarin is a bona fide superstar and he is leading the rebuilding New York Rangers in goals and assists. Furthermore, no matter who he plays with, the man just keeps upping his game. Panarin is everything the Rangers could’ve hoped for and if he keeps this pace up and drags the Rangers into a wild card spot, he deserves to be in consideration for the NHL’s Hart Trophy.