There have been a lot of big names that have pulled over the Rangers sweater over their heads but many few of them have electrified the organization the way Panarin has in only four months. We all know the names that have one skated on the home side of Madison Square Garden and we’ve also seen how many of those big names that have come to MSG at the back end of their careers with their best days behind them.

Very rarely do you ever see superstars in the prime of their careers make it to free agency because teams never let those kinds of players walk away. Sure, Stamkos teased walking away from the Lightning to test free agent waters before ultimately re-signing in Tampa. Before July 1st, 2019 everyone had believed that Panarin would bolt from Columbus straight to MSG without even blinking until the Florida Panthers and New York Islanders tried to come calling. It became a true bidding war for the star 28 year old services where many believed the Rangers knee deep into their rebuild would stay away from wading into those waters like they have in years past. Finally at the 11th hour Panarin decided that Broadway is ultimately the place he wanted to be for the next seven years of his career.

If you were on social media when Panarin decided to become a Blueshirt it was a day of absolute euphoria and celebration. However like there always is, there was a pocket of fans who had thought that Jeff Gorton, John Davidson, and company overpaid on the Russian superstar. This thought then seemed like total lunacy and now with the season that Panarin has been putting together it seems even more laughable. You could actually make the argument that the Rangers aren’t paying Panarin enough for being a franchise changing superstar that that this team hasn’t seen since the days of Jaromir Jagr.

The Blueshirts have been thirsting for a player of Panarin’s ilk ever since they decided to let Jagr walk back to Europe after the 2007-2008 season. They signed Brad Richards, traded for Rick Nash, traded for Marty St. Louis, and signed Dan Boyle. All of whom were great players in their own right but all who were beyond their primes once they became Rangers, Rick Nash not withstanding.

Panarin has not only helped the Rangers while on the stat sheet but he’s also helped this rebuilding franchise’s young player settle into roles where they won’t be under nearly as much scrutiny from fans or media members. Player’s like Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil have benefited from Panarin’s presence in the lineup because they’ve been able to take smaller roles on this team and work on their games to become complete NHL’ers rather than have to worry about putting up gaudy numbers early in their career. Playing in the NHL is pressure filled enough just because of the grind that the schedule entails or even being a highly touted prospect and being expected to live up to the hype that comes along with that. Having a superstar like Panarin to take the burden of being “the guy” helps these young kids go day to day without having to be pressured about not producing to the like of McDavid, MacKinnon, Matthews, or Marner this young in their careers.

Not many players in any sport can ever come to to New York and get the big contract and live up to expectations but Panarin has been showing through the first four months of the season that the bright lights don’t bother him one bit. He’s also shown that he can provide invaluable leadership to this young squad while constantly putting producing. Artemi Panarin is far and away the best free agent acquisition that the New York Rangers have ever made and I can say that completely confident with six more years left to play on his deal. Thanks again to Jeff Gorton to delivering one of the best players that this franchise has ever seen, things are sure to only get better.