Rangers Roundup: Artemi Panarin among NHL’s $10 million club, and new European scouting director

Originally posted on Forever Blueshirts
By Anthony Scultore | Last updated 8/5/22

Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers is one of only 13 players that is in the $10 million plus club.

According to CapFriendly, Jonathan Huberdeau’s massive new contract extension with the Calgary Flames (8 years x $10.5M) makes him the 8th highest AAV in the NHL. Panarin continues to hold the distinction of having the second highest AAV, along with Auston Matthews (TOR) to only Connor McDavid (EDM).

Next season 13 players will have a cap hit of $10M or more:

McDavid $12.5M
Panarin $11.6M
Matthews $11.6M
Karlsson $11.5M
Tavares $11M
Doughty $11M
Marner $10.9M
Huberdeau $10.5M
Price $10.5M
Kopitar $10M
Bobrovsky $10M
Barkov $10M
Eichel $10Mhttps://t.co/3UaL3g9RJW
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 5, 2022

Artemi Panarin has been a great free agent signing

The 2021-22 season was a one of Panarin’s best in the NHL. As a 30 year-old, he set career highs for assists (74) and points (96) in 75 games.

Panarin signed a 7 year deal back in 2019 with the Rangers that includes a full no-move close for the duration of the contract. His first season on Broadway almost earned him MVP honors as he scored a career-high 32 goals and 95 points in just 69 games.

Unfortunately, the season was cut short due the pandemic as Panarin was on a pace to score 112 points. In three seasons with the Blueshirts, Panarin has 249 points in 186 regular-season games.

Panarin recorded 16 points in 20 playoff contests as the Rangers fell to the Tamp Bay Lightning in 6 games of the Eastern Conference Finals. That led to rumors that Chris Drury wasn’t happy with his performance and maybe could consider trading the Breadman.

“I’m sure I could play better,” Panarin responded. “What did they write there? I really don’t know… I’m already used to not paying attention.”

Panarin expressed his displeasure with the rumors, not necessarily for himself but for his grandfather who read the reports. That prompted him to question where Artemi might get traded.

“I’m just shocked by this. Where are they trading me? They can’t trade me,” Panarin stated. “If these people understood at least a little, they would know that my contract [has a no-move clause] and a trade is impossible.”

Rangers hire new Director of European Scouting

According to the New York Rangers front office directory, they have hired Ari Vuori as their new Director of European Scouting.

Previously, Vuori was the heading up European scouting for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise since the Rangers Director of Player Personnel and Amateur Scouting, John Lilley was with the Maple Leafs before Chris Drury brought him over.

Vuori was a center during his playing days in Finland for TPS, where Kaapo Kakko played.