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Ðåêëàìà â Èíòåðíåò * Âñå Êóëè÷êè |
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Rangers star Artemi Panarin reflects on playoff frustrations 4 ìàÿ 2023 ãîäà. Vincent Z. Mercogliano. NHL Writer. Èñòî÷íèê - https://www.lohud.com He still cracked an occasional smile as he offered refreshingly candid answers to the swarm of reporters crowded around his locker at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, but he was far from his usual jovial self. It was clear that disappointment from the Rangers' first-round exit weighs heavier on him than most. "My first thought is that I’m frustrated," he said at the onset. "I feel pretty empty right now." The narrative around Panarin has taken a turn in recent weeks. For four years, he's been praised by fans as arguably the best free-agent signing in franchise history. The 31-year-old forward has led the team in regular-season points every year since he arrived in the summer of 2019 and dazzled with his superb array of offensive skills. His bubbly personality and gentle displays of kindness have only enhanced that image. But some have begun to change their tune, pointing to his $11.643 million annual salary − the third-highest in the NHL − and underwhelming postseason performances as reasons for their exasperation. Panarin didn't shy away from it. In fact, coming off a series in which he managed only two secondary assists in Game 1 and nothing after that, he was brutally honest about not living up to his lofty standards. "I, for sure, did not play well," he said. "I didn’t get the results and got frustrated too early. After that, it snowballed." For the first time in his eight-year career, Panarin went six straight games without a point. That humbling drought couldn't have come at a worse time, with the Rangers losing four of their final five games against the New Jersey Devils to cough up a 2-0 series lead. No. 10 became less visible with each passing game, fueling belief that his unique skillset can be stifled when opposing teams tighten their defense in the playoffs and open ice shrinks. "In the playoffs, it's like double pressure, double everything, and then you're putting pressure on yourself double," Panarin said. "It’s hard to explain." Not only did Panarin fail to record a goal on 15 shots across the seven games, but his elite passing ability went missing. He only registered one expected high-danger primary assist, according to Clear Sight Analytics, after ranking third in the league in that category during the regular season. The diminished playmaking may have stemmed from playing it too safe. It's been a difficult balance for him to figure out in recent years. Head coach Gerard Gallant has harped on reducing unnecessary risks that lead to easy goals for the opposition, which was a problem during the regular season when Panarin was charged with a career-high 102 giveaways. He effectively cut down on those against the opportunistic Devils, going from an average of 2.15 giveaways per game during last season's playoffs to 1.29 this year. But at what cost? "Honestly, the last playoffs, I turned over every puck," he said. "This year, I worked on that and (the turnovers) were not that bad. I don’t know (the right answer)." It's now been two consecutive postseasons in which Panarin has seen his production dip and his confidence wane, leading to fair questions about whether he can be a go-to player on a championship team. That's being pondered within the organization, but with a full no-movement clause and three years left on a contract that most teams would have difficulty fitting under the salary cap, the chances of a trade are slim. The most constructive approach is improving the roster around him with players who can help open space when the intensity ramps up and figuring out how to unlock his magic in the playoffs. The latter task will require getting over the mental hump and finding a way to bask in the pressure, rather than allowing it to fester. He'll have a long summer to chew on that one. "I think what I can learn is to not get frustrated too early," Panarin said. "I tried to play so much better than last year, and then it goes the other way." "I don’t want to say excuses," he later added. "I don’t want to say it’s mental and I feel terrible in the playoffs. Every game, I’m calm and excited and try again and again and again. But it’s not working." |  Ñòðàíè÷êà Àðò¸ìèÿ Ïàíàðèíà íà ñàéòå "Çâ¸çäû ñ Âîñòîêà" |
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