Artemi Panarin had a stellar first season with the Chicago Blackhawks and has continued his strong play at the IIHF World Championship, as he enters the quarterfinals ranking second in scoring in the tournament.
Signed as a free agent on May 1, 2015, Panarin finished second on the Blackhawks in goals (30), assists (47) and points (77) while ranking second on the team with eight power-play tallies and third with seven game-winners. He was first among all NHL rookies in each category, earning a spot as a finalist for the Calder Trophy.
The 24-year-old is the first Chicago rookie to record 30 goals since Eric Daze in 1995-96 and notch a hat trick sinc Tyler Arnason in 2002-03. He is looking to become the Blackhawks’ first Calder winner since Patrick Kane in 2008.
Panarin also was strong during Chicago’s first-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, tying Kane for the club lead with seven points. He scored the decisive goal in one of the team’s three victories in the matchup while averaging 20 minutes, 10 seconds of ice time – third among all forwards on the club.
A native of Korkino, Russia, Panarin has registered 12 points in seven games at the World Championship, which is taking place on his home soil. With five goals and seven assists, he trails linemate Vadim Shipachyov by one point as the Russians prepare to face Germany in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Panarin helped Russia capture the gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship, recording three goals and two assists in seven games. He also was a member of his country’s silver medal-winning squad at the World Championship last year, when he notched five tallies and 10 points in 10 contests.
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