For Artemi Panarin, the 2022-23 season ended the same way as the ’21-22 season did: Facing questions about his ability to perform in the playoffs.
While the Rangers had drastically different finishes to both campaigns, last year in the conference final and this year in Round 1, Panarin was not the same player in each, either.
The Russian wing’s carelessness with the puck during last season’s playoff run was a hindrance more often than it was an effective offensive risk. When he barely had the puck at all during this season’s first-round loss to the Devils, however, Panarin couldn’t make an impact, period.
His regression from last year’s playoffs to this year was not lost on Panarin.
“I feel pretty empty right now,” he said during breakup day last week.
The postseason is all that matters, but the Rangers would not have even sniffed the playoffs in either of the last two years without the contributions of Panarin.
The 31-year-old has averaged more than a point per game in six of his eight NHL seasons, including a 1.12 mark this season. But as the organization’s highest paid player, Panarin is subjected to more ridicule for what he doesn’t do than appreciation for what he does do.
There was tremendous pressure for Panarin to improve on last year’s playoff performance, and it clearly weighed on him. He was everything he usually isn’t during the regular season: apprehensive, dull and sometimes invisible.
Legacies are cemented in the playoffs, and the Rangers are still waiting on Panarin to do so.
“Honestly, last playoff I turn over, like, every puck,” Panarin said. “This year I don’t do that, not that bad… I don’t want to say excuses, like it’s mental and I feel terrible in playoffs. Every game I come in excited, I try again and again and again. And it not work, not work, not work. I don’t know.”
Sweet addition
The Rangers’ most important acquisition at this year’s trade deadline was not the recognizable names they reeled in — Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko — but rather the sweetener in one of the deals.
Defenseman Niko Mikkola, who was part of the Blues’ package with Tarasenko, proved to be a crucial addition for the Rangers. And it only goes to show that the supporting cast is just as important as the stars.
Not only did Mikkola step up and assume a top-four role when Ryan Lindgren went down with a prolonged shoulder injury toward the end of the regular season, but the Finnish blueliner was far and away the most effective third-pair option the Blueshirts tried out.
“It was a good opportunity,” Mikkola said of filling in alongside Adam Fox. “You don’t get too many chances to play with a Norris Trophy winner. I enjoyed every moment. It was good for me.”
With his extensive reach and knack for joining the rush, Mikkola was solid on the back end during his brief tenure with the Rangers. He may have taken too many penalties, especially early on, but that was something Mikkola largely corrected as the season progressed.
The Rangers probably won’t be able to afford to keep Mikkola, who likely will command a higher price on the open market after clubs saw how he handled himself in New York. Especially with contracts due for K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere, the Rangers have to prioritize their in-house restricted free agents.
Mailbag
In the aftermath of the Rangers’ Game 7 loss to the Devils, we solicited questions from followers of our Texts From the Blue Seats conversation. (Sign up here to start getting Rangers texts.) The Post’s Mollie Walker has some more answers. You can read the first batch here.
Are you surprised they fired the coach?
— Thomas Paccione
Yes and no.
Yes, because there is such a shallow pool of replacements currently available with no clear-cut frontrunner.
No, because there appeared to be a disconnect between Gerard Gallant and Chris Drury that dated back to before this year’s first-round exit.
The Devils’ team speed was so far ahead of the Rangers’. Don’t you think they have to get younger and faster? How can this team possibly improve for next season? They clearly can’t come back with this same team that, in my opinion, regressed this season.
— James Colpas, Jonathon Papadimitrios, James Sciortino
The first question about needing to be faster was actually posed to a lot of the players during breakup day, and most of them seemed to balk at the notion for a couple reasons: Either they felt they have enough speed in the room already, or they believed their team game isn’t necessarily centered on their speed.
Every team is built differently, and based on what their core already is — a high-skilled bunch with a lot of offensive weapons — the Rangers probably need more of the glue guys who can do the dirty work. A lot of their lineup is one-note, and you need a symphony to become champions.
There’s turnover every season, but the Rangers are locked into their core. The no-move clauses in the contracts ensure that the club is probably running it back with this group.
As far as the youth aspect, just a couple years ago their mainstream issue was that they were too young and inexperienced. Based on the 16 regulars who are under contract next season, or are restricted free agents, their median age is 26. How much younger could you want?
Do you trade Alexis Lafreniere? Seems to be a first draft choice bust.
— Gerard Russomanno, Keith Barrand
The growing impatience with Lafreniere is warranted, but there’s a possibility the 2020 No. 1 pick is not set up to succeed with the Rangers.
At the start of this season, the team tried to lean on Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko as top-six options. It worked out well for Kakko for a time, but quickly veered off and had the team turning to different options.
Lafreniere’s inability to make it work on the right side has been an obstacle, too, especially because the left side is already loaded with immovable players in Chris Kreider and Panarin.
The Rangers likely will be able to swing a reasonably priced bridge contract with Lafreniere, who doesn’t have much leverage in negotiations. After that, it’ll be interesting to see where it goes. The organization will have to make a decision regarding Lafreniere sooner rather than later, especially if they want to consider when he will have the most value.
There’s always a chance that more responsibility, more ice time and more NHL experience can lead to a breakout season. The Rangers certainly would want to be the team to benefit from that.
Who stays and who goes? Among the free agents, who is back?
— Helen McCabe, Peter Trinkle, Vince Cervone
Likely to stay:
Artemi Panarin
Mika Zibanejad
Chris Kreider
Vincent Trocheck
Filip Chytil
Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey
Adam Fox
Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren
K’Andre Miller
Braden Schneider
Ben Harpur
Igor Shesterkin
Likely to go:
Vladimir Tarasenko
Patrick Kane
Niko Mikkola
Jaroslav Halak
Could stay for the right deal:
Tyler Motte
Trade possibilities/cap casualties down the line:
Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere
Next year, who’ll be right-wing 1 and right-wing 2?
— David Federbush
Depending on whom the Rangers bring in during the offseason, it could be anyone from Lafreniere and Kakko to Vesey and Goodrow. The Rangers may look to bring in another top-six option, but with little cap space to work with, they certainly won’t be able to afford a player of, say, Tarasenko’s caliber.
They could target players who are traditionally bottom-sixers, but have shown an upside worthy of top-line minutes. A player such as Frank Vatrano, who wasn’t necessarily branded as a top-six contributor, but had a shooter’s reputation that was worth taking a chance on in that position.
