For a player passed over in the NHL Draft, Panarin wasted no time making an impact on the League.

Panarin, a free agent, agreed to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks on May 1, 2015, after a successful career in the Kontinental Hockey League. He thrived on a forward line with fellow Russian Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane, finishing with 30 goals and 77 points (tied for ninth in the NHL) in 2015-16 and won the Calder Trophy as the League's top rookie.

It was not the first time Panarin had excelled on North American ice. At the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship, hosted by the United States, Russia trailed Canada 3-0 after two periods of the gold-medal game, but Panarin scored 2:33 into the third period to begin his team's comeback. Russia scored two more goals to tie it, and with 4:38 remaining, Panarin scored the game-winner in Russia's 5-3 victory.

Panarin played seven seasons in the KHL and went out with a memorable season in 2014-15, finishing with 62 points (26 goals, 36 assists) in 54 games, then had 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 20 playoff games to help SKA Saint Petersburg win the Gagarin Cup. He was named to the 2014-15 KHL First All-Star Team. Panarin followed that performance by scoring five goals and finishing with 10 points in 10 games for Russia, which won the silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.

Panarin made an instant impact with the Blackhawks. He scored in his NHL debut Oct. 7, 2015, beating New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and had 21 points in his first 19 games. His first NHL hat trick also came against the Rangers, on Feb. 17, 2016.

Panarin had seven points in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring his first NHL postseason goal April 15, 2016, against the St. Louis Blues. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and won the 2015-16 Kharlamov Trophy, awarded by the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame to the best Russian player.

But after a 31-goal, 74-point season with Chicago in 2016-17, the Blackhawks traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 23, 2017. Panarin thrived with his new team and led the Blue Jackets with 82 points (27 goals, 55 assists), helping Columbus make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since entering the NHL in 2000.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• NHL All-Rookie Team (2016)
• NHL Second All-Star Team (2017)
• Signed as a free agent by Chicago, May 1, 2015.
• Traded to Columbus by Chicago with Tyler Motte and NY Islanders' 6th round pick (previously acquired, Columbus selected Jonathan Davidsson) in 2017 NHL Draft for Brandon Saad, Anton Forsberg and Columbus' 5th round pick in 2018 NHL Draft, June 23, 2017.