Artemi Panarin Bio
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin is a Russian professional ice hockey player who plays as a left winger. He is a dynamic offensive talent known for his creativity, vision, and scoring touch, and he is currently a member of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Panarin has also represented the Russia national team in international competition and is widely recognized by the nickname the Breadman, a nod to the Panera Bread restaurant chain that his early teammates gave him.
Early Life and Background
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin was born on 30 October 1991 in Korkino, in the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union. He was raised in a Russian family in Korkino and developed an early interest in ice skating. His maternal grandfather, a former amateur hockey player, encouraged him to try the sport when he was five years old and often drove him to tournaments in Tyumen, helping lay the foundation for his professional path.
Panarin attended the Traktor Ice Hockey school in Chelyabinsk, where he trained six days a week for six months a year. The demanding schedule at a respected Russian hockey academy sharpened his skills and prepared him for the rigors of professional competition. That formative training environment helped him progress through the junior ranks in Russia.
Path to Hockey
Panarin rose through the Russian hockey system and joined HC Vityaz Chekhov, beginning his professional career in 2008. After being passed over in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he continued to develop in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). On 31 January 2013, he was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg in exchange for a draft pick, a move that gave him a stronger platform to showcase his offensive ability.
During the 2014–15 KHL season, Panarin produced 26 goals and 62 points in 54 games for SKA Saint Petersburg and added 20 points in 20 playoff games during the team’s championship run. His strong performance earned him a place on the KHL First All-Star Team for that season and convinced NHL clubs that he was ready for the North American game. He signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on 29 April 2015, beginning his NHL journey.
Artemi Panarin Career
Early Career (2008–2015)
Panarin began his professional career with HC Vityaz Chekhov in 2008, where he spent several seasons developing his offensive game in the KHL. After his January 2013 trade to SKA Saint Petersburg, he grew into one of the league’s most productive wingers. His playmaking and goal-scoring touch in the Russian league drew attention from NHL scouts despite his going undrafted.
By the 2014–15 campaign, Panarin had become a central figure for SKA Saint Petersburg, helping the club capture the Gagarin Cup. His ability to produce in high-pressure playoff games, along with his selection to the KHL First All-Star Team, established him as a player ready to test himself at the highest level.
Chicago Blackhawks Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Panarin made an immediate impact with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring his first NHL goal on 7 October 2015 against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. He formed instant chemistry with Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov on Chicago’s second line, and his play helped Kane capture the league’s Most Valuable Player honors. Panarin recorded 30 goals and 47 assists for 77 points in 80 games during the 2015–16 season, leading all NHL rookies in scoring.
His strong rookie campaign also produced a Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top rookie, on 22 June 2016, along with the Kharlamov Trophy as the best Russian professional hockey player. In 2016–17, Panarin built on that success with a career-best 31 goals and 74 points in 82 games, earning a selection to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team before being traded.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2017–2019)
On 23 June 2017, Panarin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a multi-player deal. He quickly became the centerpiece of the franchise’s offense, setting a Blue Jackets single-season points record with 82 points in 81 games in 2017–18. The following season he surpassed his own mark with 87 points in 79 games, helping Columbus clinch a playoff spot.
In the 2019 playoffs, Panarin led the Blue Jackets to a stunning first-round sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning, the first playoff series win in franchise history. He finished the postseason with 11 points in 10 games before Columbus fell to the Boston Bruins in the second round.
New York Rangers Era (2019–2026)
On 1 July 2019, Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers. He opened his Rangers career with a career-high 95 points in the shortened 2019–20 season, tied for third overall in NHL scoring, and was a finalist for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award. He set several franchise milestones, including becoming the first Rangers player to record 60 points in his first 43 games with the club.
Panarin continued producing at a high level in New York, recording his 600th career NHL point on 7 December 2022 and his 700th point on 12 December 2023. He opened the 2023–24 season with a franchise-record 15-game point streak and became the fastest player in Rangers history to reach 400, then 500, and later 600 points with the club. In February 2026, with the Rangers retooling and not offering a contract extension, Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings and signed a two-year, $22 million extension on the same day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Panarin is known for his elite playmaking, smooth puckhandling, and scoring instincts, especially in transition and on the power play. He reads the ice at a high tempo, creates chances for linemates, and produces at a consistent pace across the regular season and playoffs. His partnership with top centers throughout his career has allowed him to thrive as both a finisher and a primary distributor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Panarin’s signature moments include his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season with Chicago, his record-setting tenure with the Blue Jackets, and his historic run of milestones with the Rangers. He helped Columbus sweep Tampa Bay in 2019 and set franchise point records in New York, including becoming the fastest Ranger to reach 600 points with the club.
Artemi Panarin Career Wins
Across the KHL and NHL, Panarin has built a resume that includes team championships, individual awards, and record-setting seasons. His trophy case features a Calder Memorial Trophy, a Kharlamov Trophy, and a place on multiple all-star teams, complemented by franchise records in both Columbus and New York.
KHL and NHL Highlights
In the KHL, Panarin helped SKA Saint Petersburg win the Gagarin Cup in 2014–15 and was named to the league’s First All-Star Team that same season. In the NHL, he captured the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2015–16, was selected to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2016–17, and reached several career-point milestones, including 600, 700, and franchise records with the Rangers.
Other Wins and Performances
Panarin was part of the Russia junior team that won gold at the 2011 World Junior Championships, scoring the game-winning goal in a 5–3 comeback victory over Canada. He later earned a silver medal with Russia at the 2015 World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2016 World Championship, where he finished among the tournament’s top scorers.
Artemi Panarin Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Panarin was raised in Korkino by his family, and his maternal grandfather played a central role in his early hockey development. The grandfather, a former amateur player, introduced him to the sport at age five and frequently drove him to tournaments in Tyumen, supporting the foundation of his professional career.
Personal Life
Panarin moved to the United States in August 2015 when he joined the Blackhawks, settling in with a Russian-born family in Chicago who helped him adjust to life in North America. He speaks with the help of a personal translator and was given the Breadman nickname by teammates and coaches during his time in Chicago. In a 2019 interview he publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he has been an advocate for political reform in Russia.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season saw Panarin continue his role as a top offensive contributor for the New York Rangers, building on his franchise-record-setting point streak from the previous year. He remained a focal point of the Rangers’ power play and top-six forward group, producing at a high pace while providing veteran leadership on a roster in transition.
Midway through the 2025–26 season, the Rangers announced a retooling effort and informed Panarin and his agent that the team would not offer a contract extension. On 4 February 2026, Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, with New York retaining 50 percent of his contract, and he signed a two-year, $22 million extension with Los Angeles on the same day. The move positioned him to remain a central offensive figure on a Western Conference contender.
