Artemi Panarin has been a standout player for the New York Rangers since he joined. This season, he leads the team with 57 points, including 19 goals and 38 assists, in just 52 games. In fact, he ranks ninth in the franchise’s history with 607 points, made up of 205 goals and 402 assists. During the playoffs, he notched 35 points across 46 games, helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final in both 2022 and 2024.
Before making his mark in New York, Panarin, drafted in 2015, spent two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in the 2015-16 season. He also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, boosting his career totals to 927 points—321 goals and 606 assists—over 804 regular-season games and 61 points in 73 playoff games.
On the other hand, 20-year-old forward Samuel Greentree is on the brink of his NHL debut. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, he has performed impressively in the Ontario Hockey League, racking up 45 points, split between 23 goals and 22 assists, in just 34 games with the Windsor Spitfires.
The Kings are currently fighting for a playoff spot, sitting fifth in the Pacific Division with a record of 23 wins, 17 losses, and 14 overtime losses. They trail the Seattle Kraken by just one point for the second wild card slot in the Western Conference. They will face Seattle in a critical game on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.
Recently, the Rangers traded defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders. Soucy, 31, made his Islanders debut against the Rangers shortly after the trade. He is in the final year of a three-year contract worth $9.75 million that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in July 2023. After this season, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent, which could create interesting opportunities for him and potential teams.
In summary, both teams are in crucial positions as they eye playoff spots, showcasing both veteran talent and promising newcomers in an exciting season.
