Panarin chooses No. 10, with help from Rangers fans

It's been decided. Artemi Panarin will wear No. 10 with the New York Rangers.

The forward chose his new number Tuesday, eschewing the No. 27, with the help of Rangers fans a day after he signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with New York.

After wearing No. 72 for the Chicago Blackhawks his first two NHL seasons, Panarin wore No. 9 with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but that number was not available in New York. The Rangers have retired the number twice, for forwards Andy Bathgate and Adam Graves, each in 2009.
Panarin announced via Instagram that he'd be wearing either No. 27 or No. 10, and the Rangers created a Twitter poll shortly thereafter for fans to decide. No. 10 was victorious, narrowly edging No. 27, by a margin of 52-48 percent.

Panarin then delighted fans by putting on his new jersey for the first time before meeting Rangers coach David Quinn.