Artemi Panarin Bio
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin, born 30 October 1991 in Korkino, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed the “Breadman” or simply “Bread,” Panarin is recognized as one of the most creative offensive forwards of his generation. Originally an undrafted player, he built his reputation in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before arriving in the NHL in 2015 and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
Early Life and Background
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin was raised in Korkino, a small mining city in the Chelyabinsk Oblast region of Russia. He is a Russian Orthodox Christian who developed an early interest in ice skating and sport. When he was five years old, his maternal grandfather, a former amateur hockey player, encouraged him to try the game and became a central figure in his development. His grandfather helped train Panarin and regularly drove him to hockey tournaments in the city of Tyumen.
Panarin attended the Traktor Ice Hockey school in nearby Chelyabinsk, where he trained six days a week for roughly six months of the year. The demanding schedule, combined with his grandfather’s guidance, helped him develop the skill and creativity that would later define his game. He rose through the local youth system and eventually joined HC Vityaz Chekhov in 2008, beginning his professional career in Russia’s top league at the age of 16.
Path to Hockey
Panarin was not selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, so he continued his development in the KHL with Vityaz Chekhov. In January 2013, after producing 18 points in 40 games, he was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg in exchange for a draft pick. The move to a contender accelerated his growth and gave him a much larger offensive role.
In the 2014–15 KHL season, Panarin recorded 26 goals and 62 points in 54 regular-season games for SKA Saint Petersburg, then added 20 points in 20 playoff games during the club’s championship run. His strong two-way play and scoring touch earned him a place on the KHL First All-Star Team for that season. On 29 April 2015, his KHL success led to a two-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, opening the door to North American hockey.
Artemi Panarin Career
Early Career (2008–2015)
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin began his professional career with Vityaz Chekhov in 2008 and spent his first several KHL seasons learning the professional game. He was a member of the Russian men’s junior team that won gold at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, sparking a third-period comeback against Canada with a goal that cut the deficit to 3–1 and later scoring the game-winner in a 5–3 victory.
After joining SKA Saint Petersburg in 2013, Panarin became one of the KHL’s most dangerous scorers. He made his Russian senior team debut during the 2013–14 EuroHockeyTour and represented Russia at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, earning a silver medal with ten points in ten games. These performances established him as a difference-maker at the international level and a rising offensive star.
Chicago Blackhawks Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin made an immediate impact after signing with the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored his first NHL goal on 7 October 2015 against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, the first goal of the defending Stanley Cup champions’ season. In the 2015–16 campaign, he appeared in 80 games, recording 30 goals and 47 assists for 77 points, leading all NHL rookies and finishing in the top ten in league scoring. He formed an instant connection with Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov on Chicago’s second line, and Kane credited Panarin as a major factor in his MVP-winning season.
Panarin scored his first NHL hat-trick on 17 February 2016 against the Rangers, then debuted in the Stanley Cup playoffs on 13 April, recording seven points in seven games during a first-round loss to the St. Louis Blues. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie at the 2016 NHL Awards and also received the Kharlamov Trophy as Russia’s best professional hockey player.
In his sophomore 2016–17 season, Panarin set a new career high with 31 goals, 43 assists, and 74 points in 82 games, earning a selection to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team. On 9 November 2016, he recorded his first career Gordie Howe hat-trick against the Blues, and on 26 December 2016 he signed a new two-year, $12 million contract with Chicago.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2017–2019)
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on 23 June 2017, along with Tyler Motte and a draft pick, in exchange for Brandon Saad, Anton Forsberg, and another pick. He adjusted quickly, tying a franchise record with five primary assists in a December 2017 game against the New Jersey Devils and later scoring his second career hat-trick against the New York Rangers in March 2018. He finished the 2017–18 season with 82 points in 81 games, breaking the Blue Jackets’ franchise points record.
In 2018–19, Panarin set a new club record with 87 points in 79 games, helping Columbus clinch the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Blue Jackets stunned the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning with a four-game sweep, the first playoff series victory in franchise history. Columbus fell to the Boston Bruins in the second round, and Panarin finished the postseason with 11 points in 10 games.
New York Rangers Era (2019–Present)
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers on 1 July 2019. He scored his first Rangers goal on 3 October 2019 against the Winnipeg Jets and quickly established himself as the team’s offensive engine. By 9 January 2020, he had 60 points in 43 games as a Ranger, a franchise record. He ended the shortened 2019–20 season with a career-high 95 points, tied for third in NHL scoring, and finished as a finalist for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.
Panarin took a personal leave of absence in February 2021, returned to practice in March, and missed the final three games of the 2020–21 season with a lower-body injury. On 7 December 2022, he recorded his 600th career NHL point in his 536th game, the fifth-fastest among active players at that time. He opened the 2023–24 season with a franchise-record 15-game point streak, surpassed Mark Messier as the fastest Ranger to 400 points on 13 January 2024, and reached 700 career NHL points on 12 December 2023.
Driving Style and Strengths
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin is celebrated for his elite playmaking vision, soft hands, and ability to control the pace of a game at even strength and on the power play. He excels in transition and in tight space, using subtle edge work and deception to create high-danger chances. His calm puck distribution has made him a constant top-line producer in every league and on every team he has represented.
Notable Events and Milestones
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin’s most celebrated moments include the 2011 World Junior gold medal comeback against Canada, the 2015–16 Calder Trophy season in Chicago, the franchise-record 82-point campaign with Columbus, and the historic 2019 sweep of Tampa Bay. As a Ranger, his 600th and 700th career points, his 15-game season-opening point streak, and his 95-point 2019–20 season stand out as signature milestones.
Artemi Panarin Career Wins
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin has built a strong record of team and individual success across Russian, junior, and North American hockey. He won a KHL championship with SKA Saint Petersburg in 2014–15, a World Junior gold medal in 2011, an IIHF World Championship silver in 2015, and an IIHF World Championship bronze in 2016. He has also earned the Calder Memorial Trophy, the Kharlamov Trophy, the KHL First All-Star Team selection, and the NHL Second All-Star Team selection.
KHL Highlights
In the KHL, Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin played for Vityaz Chekhov, Ak Bars Kazan, and SKA Saint Petersburg. His most productive KHL season came in 2014–15 with SKA, when he recorded 26 goals and 62 points in 54 regular-season games and added 20 points in 20 playoff games during the team’s Gagarin Cup championship run. That performance earned him a KHL First All-Star Team selection and served as the springboard for his NHL move.
Other Wins and Performances
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin represented Russia at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, earning silver with ten points in ten games, and at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, earning bronze while finishing among the tournament’s top three scorers. He also represented Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, continuing his role as a senior international contributor.
Artemi Panarin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Korkino by a Russian family and is a Russian Orthodox Christian. His maternal grandfather, a former amateur hockey player, was a key influence in his early development, training him from age five and driving him to tournaments in Tyumen.
Personal Life
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin moved to the United States in August 2015 after signing with the Chicago Blackhawks. He did not speak English at the time and initially lived with a Russian-born family in Chicago who helped him adjust to life in North America. Teammates Artem Anisimov and Viktor Tikhonov, along with a personal translator, also helped him learn English. Panarin is widely known by the affectionate nickname “Breadman,” a reference to the Panera Bread restaurant chain, given to him by Blackhawks teammates and coaches.
2025 Season Performance
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin entered the 2024–25 season as the offensive cornerstone of the New York Rangers and one of the NHL’s most productive left wingers. The Rangers retained Panarin as a top-line forward and alternate captain, leaning on his playmaking to drive the team’s power play and five-on-five attack. His track record of reaching milestones, including his 700th career point in December 2023, suggested he remained a central figure in the Rangers’ plans.
Panarin continued to build on his franchise-record 15-game season-opening point streak from 2023–24 and his status as the fastest Ranger to 400 points. He remained one of the league’s premier point producers, ranking among the Rangers’ leaders in goals and assists as the team chased a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His consistent scoring touch and chemistry with linemates kept New York’s offense among the most dangerous in the Metropolitan Division.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season outlook for Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin centered on remaining healthy, pushing the Rangers back into postseason contention, and adding to his already impressive career totals. With several productive seasons still remaining on his contract, Panarin remained a player capable of finishing among the NHL’s top scorers and chasing future milestones in a Rangers uniform.