Columbus Blue Jackets: Artemi Panarin on Pace to Shatter Records
By William Espy
It’s only six games into the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but Artemi Panarin is on pace to shatter his own records.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin is on pace for 78 assists and 118 points according to Hockey-Reference’s adjusted points system. It’s unlikely that he’ll keep up that pace, however if somehow he does it could change the Blue Jackets franchise.
Both of those statistics would be franchise records, bumping Artemi Panarin into second with 55 assist and 82 point season last year. Depending on which way the pending free agency goes, it could be a bittersweet moment having him first and second in both respective categories.
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Panarin is currently at a stat line of 3-6-9 through six games, which is very impressive even in a small sample size. The 26-year-old is on pace for a Hall of Fame level career, averaging almost a point per game so far in his career.
He’s been exactly what general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had hoped he would be when he acquired him before last season. Especially with the decline of Brandon Saad, the move looks more and more beneficial to Columbus daily.
Panarin has shown that he’s undoubtedly the most skilled player the Columbus Blue Jackets have ever had on the roster in their prime, overall that award would still go to Sergei Fedorov but he was on the downturn by the time he had reached Columbus.
Next. Staring Down the Barrel: Panarin’s Old Team. dark
With the Blue Jackets facing the Chicago Blackhawks tonight, Panarin will certainly want to build on his season so far against his former team. That’ll be no easy feat with Corey Crawford potentially in net against the Blue Jackets, but if anyone on the roster knows him and his tendencies it’ll be Artemi. It’s unlikely that the Blue Jackets will face Crawford though, since he played last night.