The Columbus Blue Jackets officially unveiled their shiny new offensive superstar on Wednesday, as winger Artemi Panarin – acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in June – donned his new threads for the first time.
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Set to enter his third NHL campaign after two dominant seasons in Chicago – where Panarin posted 61 goals and 151 points in 162 games for the Blackhawks – the 25-year-old said he’s got something to prove with his new club.
“Throughout my career, people always said I’m playing (well) because of somebody else,” Panarin said at a press conference on Wednesday, as translated by his agent, Dan Milstein. “Nobody remembers when I played prior to the last couple years. I’m used to (the comparisons) and I don’t pay any attention to it.”
“I get a little bit angry at it,” Panarin added with a laugh.
“It should be noted that Patrick Kane had a couple of his best seasons of his career too (while) playing with Artemi,” said Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “So I think it works both ways.”
Panarin certainly isn’t new to putting up hefty numbers. While his offensive efforts in Chicago earned him the 2016 Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie, the Korkino, Russia native turned plenty of heads prior to his entrance into the NHL as well.
Suiting up for the KHL’s SKA Saint Petersburg for the three seasons preceding his North American rookie campaign, Panarin amassed a strong stat line of 46 goals and 102 points through 108 games.
If he can top the 70-point plateau for the third straight year in 2017-18 – proving he can do so without the aid of Kane’s offensive wizardry – Panarin should have a fair shake at emerging as an undeniable superstar in his own right.
He’d also become the clear-cut top scoring option in his new town, as the Blue Jackets haven’t seen a forward eclipse 70 points since linemates Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen did it back in 2015, prior to the latter’s move to Nashville.
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