Artemi Panarin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Artemi Panarin
Panarin with the New York Rangers in October 2021
Born	(1991-10-30) 30 October 1991 (age 33) Korkino, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	173 lb (78 kg; 12 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	New York Rangers Vityaz Chekhov Ak Bars Kazan SKA Saint Petersburg Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2008–present

Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin (Russian: Арте́мий Серге́евич Пана́рин; born 30 October 1991) is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He is a winger and an alternate captain for the New York Rangers. This team plays in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Panarin is often called the "Breadman" or simply "Bread" by his fans and teammates. Before joining the Rangers, he played for several teams. These include Vityaz Chekov, Ak Bars Kazan, SKA Saint Petersburg, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He was not chosen in the NHL draft, but he started his career in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Panarin joined the NHL in 2015 with the Blackhawks. In his first NHL season (2015–16), he won the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the league's best rookie player.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Artemi Panarin grew up in a town called Korkino in Russia. He loved ice skating from a young age. His grandfather, who used to play hockey, encouraged Artemi to start playing when he was five. His grandfather also helped train him and drove him to many tournaments.

Panarin went to the Traktor Ice Hockey school in Chelyabinsk. There, he trained six days a week for half the year.

Playing Career Highlights

KHL Journey

Artemi Panarin was not picked in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. So, he began his professional hockey career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He first played for HC Vityaz.

In 2013, Panarin moved to SKA Saint Petersburg. During the 2014–15 season, he scored 26 goals and 62 points in 54 games. He was a key player when his team won the Gagarin Cup. He scored 20 points in 20 playoff games that season. He was also named to the KHL's top all-star team.

NHL Adventures

Chicago Blackhawks (2015–2017)

On April 29, 2015, Panarin signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. He scored his first NHL goal on October 7, 2015, against the New York Rangers. This was the first goal for the Blackhawks in their 2015–16 season.

On February 17, 2016, Panarin scored his first NHL hat-trick (three goals in one game). He played in 80 games that season, scoring 30 goals and 47 assists for 77 points. This made him the top rookie scorer in the NHL. He played very well with teammates Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov. Kane, who was the league's MVP, said Panarin helped him have a great season.

Panarin played his first playoff game on April 13, 2016. He scored his first playoff goal two days later. He earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie. He also received the Kharlamov Trophy for the best Russian hockey player.

In the 2016–17 season, Panarin continued to be a strong offensive player. On November 9, 2016, he got his first "Gordie Howe hat-trick." This means he scored a goal, had an assist, and got into a fight in the same game. In December, he signed a new two-year contract with the Blackhawks. He finished that season with a career-high 31 goals and 74 points. He was also named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

Columbus Blue Jackets (2017–2019)

On June 23, 2017, Panarin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. On December 8, he made five primary assists in one game. This helped Columbus win against the New Jersey Devils.

On March 20, 2018, Panarin scored his second career hat-trick. On April 3, he broke the Blue Jackets' record for most points in a season. He finished the season with 82 points (27 goals, 55 assists). In the 2018 playoffs, he scored seven points in six games.

The next season, Panarin broke his own record with 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists). This helped the Blue Jackets make the playoffs. In the 2019 playoffs, Panarin and the Blue Jackets surprised everyone. They swept the top-ranked Tampa Bay Lightning in four games. This was the first playoff series win in Blue Jackets history. After that, they lost to the Boston Bruins. Panarin finished the playoffs with 11 points in 10 games.

New York Rangers (2019–present)

Panarin (left) beside teammate Jacob Trouba during a game in November 2022.

On July 1, 2019, Panarin signed a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers. His first goal as a Ranger came on October 3, 2019, against the Winnipeg Jets. By January 9, 2020, Panarin had 60 points in his first 43 games as a Ranger. This was a new team record, beating Wayne Gretzky's previous record.

Panarin finished the shortened 2019–20 regular season with a career-high 95 points. He had 32 goals and 63 assists. He was tied for third in scoring among all NHL players. He was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.

On February 22, 2021, Panarin took a personal break. He returned to practice on March 10. He finished the 2020–21 season with 17 goals and 41 assists in 42 games.

On December 7, 2022, Panarin reached his 600th career point. He was the fifth fastest active player to reach this milestone. On December 12, 2023, he recorded his 700th NHL career point. On January 13, 2024, he became the fastest Ranger to reach 400 points in just 310 games. He passed team legends like Mark Messier and Brian Leetch.

International Play

Artemi Panarin

Panarin playing for the Russian National Team in 2016
Medal record
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Silver	2015 Czech Republic
Bronze	2016 Russia
Bronze	2017 Germany/France
World Junior Championships
Gold	2011 United States

Junior Team Success

Panarin was part of the Russian junior team that won a gold medal. This happened at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. In the championship game, Russia was losing 3–0 to Canada. Panarin scored a goal to make it 3–1. He then scored the winning goal with less than five minutes left. Russia won the game 5–3.

Senior Team Appearances

Panarin first played for the Russian senior team in the 2013–14 season. He was chosen for Russia's team at the 2015 IIHF World Championship. They won a silver medal, and he scored ten points in ten games.

Panarin also played in the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where Russia won a bronze medal. He formed a strong line with his former teammates Vadim Shipachyov and Evgenii Dadonov. They were the top three scorers in the tournament. Panarin also represented Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Personal Life

Artemi Panarin moved to the United States in August 2015 to play for the Chicago Blackhawks. He did not speak English at first. He lived with a Russian-speaking family in Chicago. This family helped him get used to his new home. Panarin also has a personal translator for interviews. His Russian teammates, Viktor Tikhonov and Artem Anisimov, also helped him learn English.

His teammates and coaches on the Blackhawks gave him the nickname "Breadman." This is a fun reference to the Panera Bread restaurant chain. Panarin has also shared his opinions on political matters in his home country.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011	Russia	WJC			7	3	2	5	4
2015	Russia	WC			10	5	5	10	4
2016	Russia	WC			10	6	9	15	4
2016	Russia	WCH	4th		4	1	1	2	4
2017	Russia	WC			9	4	13	17	4
Junior totals					7	3	2	5	4
Senior totals					33	16	28	44	16

Awards and Honors