4 Things That Make New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin So Good

Since he arrived in the NHL in 2015, Artemi Panarin has been one of the leagues most efficient point producers.

This article will investigate some of the tools Panarin utilizes to consistently create offense at a high level.

Panarins Ability to Get to the Middle of the Ice on Transition Rushes Panarin rarely gets angled into the boards on transition rushes.

He is able to consistently get to the middle of the ice, which provides him with more space and attacking options as a result.

One of the reasons he can do this is that he always has his head up, which allows him to time his cut-in move well.

Another reason is that he has a really effective strategy that he often employs when attacking defenders.

As he approaches the defender on his off wing, he will take a stride forward while leaving the puck slightly behind him.

The defenseman, reacting to Panarins speed, generally continues skating backward.

This provides Panarin with a pocket of space to maneuver the puck to the middle of the ice and sharply cut inwards, eluding the defenders body and allowing him to get to his intended spot.

Panarins Good Positioning and High Hockey IQ Panarin is not the biggest or strongest player, but his elite processing ability allows him to consistently get the puck in high-danger situations in front of the opponents net.

He frequently finds open ice when breakdowns or chaotic situations occur.

He also has the ability to process where the other players are on the ice very quickly and make the right read.

Another element of his high hockey IQ is his knowledge of when to pass and when to shoot.

Panarin actually scores the vast majority of his goals from outside the paint area, making him somewhat of a statistical anomaly.

But these shots are taken with a purpose.

Much of the time, he shoots with a screen, such as his patented move on the power play where he takes the puck from the half wall, saunters his way to the middle of the ice, and lofts a puck on net with Chris Kreider screening the goalie in front.

Panarins Strong Puck Protection and Puck Control Panarin is one of the most skilled players in the NHL today.

He combines a compact and efficient skating stride with an elite skill level and stickhandling ability to be one of the most dangerous players with the puck on his stick in the NHL.

He is also a smart puck protector, turning his back to opponents and using his lower body to prevent opponents from getting a stick on the puck.

One of the consequences of this skillset is that Panarin has the ability to make simple plays quicker than other players.

He is able to process what is in front of him before the puck gets to his stick and quickly corral the puck and make a smart read.

Saving this extra half-second means that his passes are less frequently intercepted or deflected by an opposing player, which is part of the reason that so many of Panarins points come from simple passes and seemingly innocuous in-game situations.

Panarins Speed Control Panarin is a master at knowing when to speed up and when to slow down.

Part of this is simply necessity, as he is not one of the leagues fastest skaters and is rarely able to burn defensemen wide.

Another is his ability to recognize the flaws in a defenders body and stick positioning.

If the defender does not have a good gap, Panarin frequently elects to slow down and make a cut-in move, whereas if the defender is overstretched, he can lower his shoulder and drive wide.

Conclusion Panarin is not necessarily a player that immediately jumps off the page.

He is undersized and, in terms of linear speed, an average skater.

But his high hockey IQ, strong puck protection, and incredible craftiness and creativity have allowed him to be one of the New York Rangers most consistent point producers.

The Rangers will need Panarin to continue producing at a high level as they chase the Eastern Conferences final playoff spot.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission..

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