CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 19: Fans cheer as Artemi Panarin #72 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates a third period goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center on March 19, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Avalanche 6-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks are welcoming in an old friend as Artemi Panarin makes his first return to the United Center as a member of the New York Rangers.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets a few seasons ago now. They got back Brandon Saad in return and Saad is a very good player. He is, however, not as good as Panarin and it really isn’t even close. Panarin has developed into one of the very best players in the NHL since his departure from Chicago. Anybody who thought Panarin was only good because of Kane looks very wrong now.
He has returned to United Center as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets but this will be his first time as a member of the New York Rangers where he signed a lucrative deal over this past summer. He is so far, worth every penny of his 11.6 million dollar cap hit. If the Rangers were a little bit closer to playoff contention, Panarin would be in the conversation for the Hart Trophy.