Mike Sullivan's Latest Update On Artemi Panarin Leaves Fans Questioning His Availability For Opening-Night
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The New York Rangers have issued an injury update on Artemi Panarin. The team is set to take on the New Jersey Devils at home in Madison Square Garden tomorrow, October 2nd. Will Panarin be ready to join the lineup?
The New York Rangers received unfortunate news on September 19th when forward Artemi Panarin injured himself at practice.
Since then, he's been out of the lineup and has missed preseason action for the team. Add this to his woeful contract negotiations, and it is a mess.
For the Rangers, they're missing their elite forward, a dependable point-producer, and for Panarin, he misses meaningful reps on the ice every night.
The team issued an update on the Russian forward's status today. Could we see him return to action before the regular season starts?
Artemi Panarin hasn't been cleared to return to play
The 33-year-old Russian forward has been held out of the lineup, despite being able to practice as of late.
Panarin has been practicing since September 26th, and Head Coach Mike Sullivan likes how he's progressing.
But he wouldn't commit to a yes or no when it came to placing him back in the lineup tomorrow against the New Jersey Devils.
«He looks good. He looks strong,» Sullivan said. «Obviously he's an incredible player. You know the things he does with the puck. He's unique in that regard. You see what he does on the power play, for example. We worked on our power play at practice today. I think he looks strong, healthy, fit - all of the above. I don't know whether we're going to put him in the lineup tomorrow or not. We'll make that decision after we meet this afternoon.
«But we really like the way he's trending, and I think the last couple of days have been quality practices for him.»
«But we really like the way he's trending, and I think the last couple of days have been quality practices for him.»
Ideally, the Rangers would like to get him in some action against the New Jersey Devils tomorrow and the Boston Bruins on Friday in TD Garden.
But they're playing it cautiously right now, to make sure the team's top scorer returns to the lineup, ready to go.
Last season, he scored 89 points (37-52) in 80 games with the Rangers.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
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