For many wingers, a fifth-place ranking is something to be proud of, and I’m sure few have any issues with NY Rangers forward Artemi Panarin possessing such a high spot amidst his peers. But following what was a career season in 2023-24, Panarin deserved at least a top-three ranking on the NHL Network’s Top 20 Wingers List, if not higher.
Just as a refresher, Panarin was a First Team All-Star who finished in the top five for the Hart Trophy amidst a campaign that saw him score 49 goals and record 120 points. Panarin has had more than his fair share of respectable outings in the past, but his previous career-best in points sat at 96, which he achieved in 2021-22.
While I will concede and say that yes, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning deserved the No. 1 spot, Parnarin outperformed the likes of the Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk, the Colorado Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen, and you can even argue that he was better than David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.
NY Rangers winger should use fifth-place ranking as fuel for 2024-25
While the entire NY Rangers team should be more than motivated for the 2024-25 season after coming so close to punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final and winning the Presidents’ Trophy, Panarin might want to take a look at these rankings and use them as fuel to perhaps augment the fine campaign that was.
While he’s entering his age-33 season, Panarin is showing no signs of slowing down after breaking through to the NHL at age 24 as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015-16. That said, there should be nothing remotely stopping Panarin from not only showing that he can repeat the output he enjoyed last season, but to show that he was more deserving of a Top 3 or better yet, a Top 2 ranking.
Ironically enough, another winger whose ranking I scoffed at was none other than Sam Reinhart’s, who took ninth place. Reinhart may not have put up the same amount of points production - 94 - but 57 goals are 57 goals.
Overall, I would have clocked in Nikita Kucherov at No. 1, Panarin at No. 2, and Reinhart at No. 3. But, we can also be rest assured that all rankings, whether we agree with them or not, are ultimately subjective. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t critique them where we feel critique is due.
(Statistics powered by Hockey-Reference)