Panarin 'putting himself in the MVP talk,' Rangers coach says

Artemi Panarin deserves to be a Hart Trophy candidate, New York Rangers coach David Quinn said in a fan Q&A conducted by the team Wednesday.

The forward, in his first season with New York after signing as a free agent, is tied with Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak for third in the NHL with 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 69 games, is second with a plus-36 rating, and leads the NHL with 71 even-strength points.

"[Panarin] is one of the few players that during the course of a game the players on the bench, when he does something, literally look at each other and say, 'Did you just see that?'" Quinn said. "Obviously, Panarin was putting himself in the MVP talk and he should have [been]. His personality and passion for the game is so infectious and we're just incredibly fortunate to have him."

The Rangers were two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets for the two wild cards into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference when the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

New York is tied for second in the NHL with 14 wins and tied for third with 29 points since Jan. 31.

"I thought we formed all the characteristics you're going to need to be a successful hockey team," Quinn said. "We always felt good about our team even though we were hovering around .500. Christmas came, and as a staff and as an organization we thought our best hockey was in front of us. Slowly but surely it all started coming together and we really felt good about where our game was at. We felt good about our chances of making the playoffs when the season had to stop."

Quinn had a lot of praise for several of the Rangers young players. He said forward Filip Chytil, and defensemen Tony DeAngelo and Ryan Lindgren have been among their most improved.

Chytil, 20, and Lindgren, 22, started the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League but have since become mainstays in New York's lineup since each was recalled Oct. 28. Chytil has 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) in 60 games. Lindgren has 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) and is plus-16 in 60 games.

DeAngelo, 24, is tied with Vancouver Canucks rookie Quinn Hughes for fourth among NHL defensemen with 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) in 68 games.

"He's become a much more well-rounded defenseman," Quinn said of DeAngelo. "He's been a big piece of why we've had the success we've had not only from his offensive production, but he's really grown up and been much better defensively."

Quinn also said 22-year-old rookie defenseman Adam Fox, a potential Calder Trophy candidate as NHL rookie of the year, is among the biggest surprises. Fox has 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) and is plus-22 in 70 games.

"To be able to make the jump and transition to the National Hockey League look easy, and I'm not saying it's been easy, but look the way it does from his end of it has been very impressive," Quinn said. "The one thing that has really surprised me is how well he's defended and what a good defenseman he's been. He's really smart in how he defends. He's not the biggest guy in the world (5-foot-11, 181 pounds) but he certainly knows how to use his feet, his body, his stick. His anticipation is off the charts."

Quinn also said the play of 33-year-old defenseman Marc Staal, who averages a Rangers-high 2:44 of shorthanded ice time per game, has been a bright spot. Staal was being scratched before having surgery on his ankle in early November which caused him to miss 13 games.

"We would not be in the position we are in without Marc Staal and the last three months that he's had," Quinn said. "It's been the best hockey that he's played since I've been here. He's got a pep in his step. There's an enthusiasm that you see in him and it translates to what you see on the ice."