Panarin Named Finalist for Hart Trophy as Week 2 Begins

Artemi Panarin, Hart Trophy Finalist.
It just sounds right.
On Tuesday, the NHL confirmed what many who have watched Panarin throughout his first six months as a Ranger have believed to be true all along: He is one of three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, the league's highest honor, awarded to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.
Perhaps the only person caught off guard by the nomination was Panarin himself.
"I never even thought I'd be nominated for anything," Panarin said on Tuesday afternoon. "So it's very important for me, and very surprising for me. But it's much more important for my relatives and loved ones."
Panarin, who was also named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award last week, has been an impact player for the Rangers since Day 1, when he netted his first of 32 goals in his first game as a Blueshirt. He finished the year with career highs in goals, assists (63) and points (95) in just 69 games, and he led the NHL in both even-strength points and assists. He was also the only player in the league to record 95-plus points and a plus-minus rating of 35 or better.

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"Artemi has had a special season," said Rangers Head Coach David Quinn. "It's not a surprise. Not only is he a Ted Lindsay finalist, he's going to be a Hart Trophy finalist, so I think everybody knows how we feel about him here."
None of Panarin's teammates were surprised to see him nominated for the league's most prestigious honor. All season, they've seen how much he has meant to this club.
"At the end of the day," said Ryan Strome, Panarin's center for the majority of 2019-20, "when you have a Hart Trophy candidate on your line, it makes your job easier, day in and day out."
Panarin, who signed with New York as a free agent on July 1, 2019, has never shown any qualms about adjusting to life on the big stage and the pressure that comes from in. In fact, he's embraced it, and clearly, he's thrived under it.
"He's been outstanding for us all season," said linemate Jesper Fast. "Coming in, having the pressure, he's been carrying us the whole season with the way he's been playing, both the offensive type of game he has and he's also been taking really good responsibility playing defense and playing all three zones. He's been outstanding for us the whole year, and a very deserving nominee."
On the ice, Panarin's impact has been obvious. Off the ice, he's made an impact, too, and even though it's not as obvious, it's every bit as critical to the Rangers as they have propelled themselves into contention in 2019-20.
"He has injected us with an awful lot of passion and enthusiasm," Quinn said. "There's no more of a deserving player than him to be in that conversation."

A Unique Opportunity for Miller

Normally, when a college player signs his entry-level deal in the middle of an NHL season, he has an opportunity to join the organization right away - either at the AHL or the NHL level - and begin to get a feel for life as a pro.
Obviously, this isn't a normal season.
K'Andre Miller, who officially signed with the Rangers back on March 16th - right at the start of the pause - has a unique, and valuable, opportunity in front of him now. Normally, he'd be able to attend a development camp and informal workouts with future teammates before officially beginning his NHL career. With that off the table given the pandemic-induced changes to the league calendar, he has been able to join the Rangers' group for Phase 3 Training Camp.
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For the 20-year-old defenseman, who joined the main group on Tuesday after spending the first week of camp skating with a smaller group of reserves, the opportunity has proven invaluable - and he's certainly made the most of it and impressed the Rangers coaching staff.
"It's a unique opportunity for him, and I just think it gives him a comfort level and a familiarity going into next season," Quinn said. "I think it happens a lot when a kid signs late in the season after their college season - they come in and join an organization. Sometimes they're able to play five or six games, or sometimes they're just able to be around. I think this] will certainly lend for an easier transition when next fall starts."
When defenseman Ryan Lindgren wrapped up his final season at the University of Minnesota in 2018, he immediately joined the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, where he played in 10 games before his first full season as a pro. He knows how valuable it can be for a player to get that experience, to be able to familiarize himself with new teammates and new coaches and a new lifestyle.
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"This is huge for him," Lindgren said. "It definitely looks like he fits in, and he's a heck of a hockey player. I kind of did the same thing, going from college to pro, and it's definitely a big jump. I think this opportunity to come here right now and get comfortable with the guys, get comfortable with the coaching staff, is going to be huge for him, and I think as he goes into his training camp starting this year he's going to just feel more comfortable and know what to expect.
What everyone likes about Miller is what he brings to the table physically: the 6-foot-4 frame, the skating, the shot. What Quinn has liked about Miller over the last week-plus: everything else.
"What I really like about K'Andre's game is how quick he's thinking, recognizing plays, his hockey sense," Quinn said. "His physical skills are obvious to everybody - he skates really well, he's got great size, he's got a great reach - but I like the little small-area plays he's been able to make and how quickly he's been able to move the puck."

Week 2 Begins, Intensity Dials up

With one week of training camp in the rearview mirror, there are now less than two weeks remaining until the Rangers will take the ice for games that count - an experience they haven't had since March 11.
"I'm looking forward to coaching our team in a game again," Quinn said. "I really liked our practice today. I thought there was a little bit more purpose and focus within our practice, and I'm just looking forward to coaching a game again. I know it's going to be playoffs, but I feel like we were coaching playoff hockey before this break because of the situation we were in. It's going to be a lot of fun."
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With Aug. 1 fast approaching, the intensity was noticeably dialed up on Tuesday following an off-day on Monday.
"Coach Quinn talked about it today before the practice that we need to amp it up," Lindgren said. "This week's going to be huge for us. We're going to need to keep the intensity going and getting better every day. I thought today was a great start. We had a good couple days last week, but you could even tell today it was more intense, and guys are making sure that they're working hard every drill and just focusing on the defense, too."
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There were also two new faces on the ice with the main group in Miller and defenseman Libor Hajek. Forward Pavel Buchnevich, who left Saturday's practice early and did not skate Sunday, also returned to the ice - a welcome sight for his coach.
"Buchy had a really good second half," Quinn said, "and was a big piece of why we had success down the stretch."
Quinn and his staff spent Monday reviewing learnings from the first week of camp and ironing out any workflow changes they may want to make before the team sets off for Toronto on Sunday.
"We're just continuing to evaluate," he said. "We just wanted to reassess where we're at. We're happy with the way the practices were going. Obviously, these are unique circumstances, so on top of talking about the personnel, we certainly wanted to touch on if we were doing the right thing from a practice standpoint and working on the right things we needed to do. We're happy with where we're at, and I thought we had a good day today."

Quote of the Day

"Obviously watching the playoffs growing up, and throughout my whole life, you see how intense the playoffs can be and I love that side of hockey. I love being physical, I love the intensity of it, so I'm looking forward to it. It should be a blast." - Ryan Lindgren
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Through Our Eyes