Rangers injury update: Artemi Panarin again leaves preseason game with lower-body issue
For the second time this preseason, Artemi Panarin was unable to finish what he started. The New York Rangers star forward left their preseason game Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden in the first period with a lower-body injury.
One week earlier, Panarin left in the third period of a 6-4 win against the New York Islanders, also with a lower-body issue.
It appeared the injury last week was a minor one. Panarin was back on the ice Thursday after he missed practice Wednesday. He didn’t play last Thursday against the Boston Bruins nor Monday against the Devils.
Obviously, this is a major concern for the Rangers, with opening night against the Pittsburgh Penguins coming up next Wednesday. Panarin played four shifts Tuesday totaling 2:25 in ice time. His final shift ended at 7:13 of the first period.
“There’s always a concern when a player leaves early,” coach Peter Laviolette said postgame.
The Rangers are already without defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) and forward Jimmy Vesey (lower body). Each is expected to miss a few weeks. Lindgren was hurt a week ago after a fight with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. Vesey sustained a non-contact injury in practice Sunday.
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Artemi Panarin has been productive, durable in five Rangers seasons
Panarin scored an NHL career-high 49 goals last season and had 120 points, fourth-most in the League and second-most in Rangers history. Since signing with the Rangers in the summer of 2019, Panarin has totaled a whopping 461 points (149 goals, 312 assists) in 350 games.
The soon-to-be 33-year-old has also been extremely durable. He played all 82 games in each of the past two seasons. He missed seven games in 2021-22.
If Panarin misses any stretch of time, the Rangers could consider moving Kaapo Kakko up to take his spot on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, with the latter possibly moving to his natural left wing in Panarin’s spot to accommodate Kakko on the right side.
Third-line left wing Will Cuylle could be considered for a promotion as well, and 21-year-old rookie Brennan Othmann could be in the mix, either to take Panarin’s spot on the Trocheck line or slide into a third-line role if Kakko or Cuylle are moved up.
Since the Rangers have not announced the severity or nature of Panarin’s injury, this is all conjecture.
Certainly there are plenty of fingers being crossed in the Rangers’ front office right now.
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