The New York Rangers decided to feature star forward Artemi Panarin in two preseason games, but he was forced to exit both due to different injuries. Despite coming off his best NHL season, Panarin’s training camp and preseason were less than ideal. However, he returned to practice on Monday, just in time for the team’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette expressed optimism about Panarin’s availability for the opener but remained cautious. “He made it through practice today without any issues,” Laviolette said, as reported by USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano. “That’s a positive.”
Panarin, however, shut down any doubts about his status, regardless of Laviolette’s cautious approach. “I feel good right now,” Panarin said. “I hope I’m good to go.” Panarin had missed the previous five days due to a lower-body injury, leaving his status for Wednesday uncertain.
After a full practice session with his usual top-line teammates, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, Panarin seems ready for Wednesday’s game against the Penguins. Panarin confirmed he is set to play and reclaimed his PP1 spot from Lafreniere. “He looked terrible,” commented Mercogliano on Lafreniere.
Panarin was pulled from last week’s preseason game against the New Jersey Devils after just four shifts as a precaution and didn’t participate in the preseason finale against the New York Islanders.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are also dealing with injuries to Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. Both were officially placed on injured reserve (IR) to begin the season. Lindgren, injured during a preseason fight with Scott Mayfield, continues to skate on his own as he works toward recovery, while Vesey, suffering a lower-body injury in practice, has been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and will miss at least 10 games.
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