Despite the season being one game from over, New York Rangers' team-leader Artemi Panarin still managed to notch two more awards into his belt.
Panarin — a left wing with 89 points on the 2024-25 National Hockey League season so far — was voted on by members of the Rangers Media as this year's Most Valuable Player and Good Guy. The MVP Award is expected; the 33-year-old needs one more point in New York's last contest to reach 90 for the fourth straight season and the fifth time in his career. The Good Guy award is given to a member of the roster who the Blueshirt beat reporters find easy to talk to.
Your 2024-25 #NYR MVP as voted on by members of the Rangers media: Artemi Panarin.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 16, 2025
Congratulations, Bread. 👏 pic.twitter.com/XYX5VAxyUT
The Breadman is considered a MVP in the NHL due to his exceptional combination of skill, vision, and playmaking ability. He excels at controlling the puck, creating scoring chances, and drawing defenders. Additionally, his elite stickhandling, strong puck protection, and craftiness make him a dangerous offensive threat.
This is further backed up by his statistics. The Korkino, Russia native's previously mentioned 89 points are combined from 52 assists and 37 goals. On his career, he has appeared in 751 games and tallied a total of 870 points.
Panarin is also — apparently — very friendly and easy to talk to with beat reporters.
"[Artemi] Panarin could’ve won this award every single season he’s been in New York, in my opinion, but you can only win it once and he stepped up this season."Mollie Walker, New York Post
Along with Team MVP, Artemi Panarin is also named Good Guy by #NYR media.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) April 16, 2025
Panarin could’ve won this award every single season he’s been in New York, in my opinion, but you can only win it once and he stepped up this season.
No one is easier to talk to than No. 10.
Most recently, Panarin became the fastest skater to reach 500 points (165 goals, 335 assists in 384 games) with the Rangers with an assist in a 5-3 loss at the Florida Panthers on Dec. 30. He passed the great New York Rangers alum Mark Messier, who got his 500th point in his 406th game with New York.
When starting his NHL career, Panarin scored in his NHL debut Oct. 7, 2015, against the New York Rangers and had 21 points in his first 19 games. His first NHL hat trick also came against the Rangers, on Feb. 17, 2016. He was signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers on July 1, 2019. Since then, his impact has obviously been huge.