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Is Artemi Panarin the best free agent signing in New York Rangers history?

By Justin Bonhard

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 04: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates a Ranger goal against Vitek Vanecek #41 of the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on February 04, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 04: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates a Ranger goal against Vitek Vanecek #41 of the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on February 04, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Adam Graves #9 of the New York Rangers . Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

Who is the second best signing in Rangers history?

The only other rival to this is the Adam Graves signing in 1991. When the Rangers acquired Graves as a Group 1 free agent, he was 23-years-old and had been in the league for four seasons. Once he arrived on Broadway, he helped the Rangers secure the President’s Trophy with a contribution of 26 goals and 33 assists during the 1991-92 season.

Then, in the magical season of 1993-94, Graves set the franchise record at the time, with 52 goals scored in a season. He added 27 assists to give him 79 points during the regular season. But, his legacy was born in the playoffs of that year. En route to giving Rangers hopefuls their first Stanley Cup victory in 54 years, Graves lit the lamp 10 times and also had seven assists to go along with it.

Graves is the only other free agent signing in Rangers history to rival that of Panarin. And, it is a close one due to the fact that without Graves, Game Seven of the 1993-94 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks may have gone the other way. He netted the second goal of the game, on the power play, and then assisted on Messier’s goal to help put the game out of reach.

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