Artemi Panarin opens up on horrible treatment from Gerard Gallant
For New York Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin, last year's playoff dud is still burning bright like that neon sign, and former Blueshirts coach, Gerard Gallant, is to blame for it.
Yes, despite him going bald over the offseason, he completely changed his approach to the game. Despite the breadman authoring the best season of his career, 48 goals and 118 points, one worthy of Hart Trophy consideration, last year still stings.
According to NY Post writer and hockey hall of Famer Larry Brooks, Panarin was chastised by coach Gerard Gallant in front of the entire team for his poor play during the Blueshirts' round, seven-game defeat against the New Jersey Devils. Panarin, the $11.5 million man, deserved the criticism, for he had no goals and just two points in the seven-game tilt. Yet it's another thing to embarrass him in the locker room during a playoff game.
Panarin has been resolute in refusing to discuss last year's playoffs, in which a tenuous relationship with head coach Gerard Gallant deteriorated. We've been told that the winger was aired out by the coach in front of the team in an incident that did not go over well with anyone. Panarin has also said that he does not want to talk about what's coming up next week.
Panarin's actions speak louder than words, though. He showed that with the game-tying goal on Saturday, ensuring New York would remain atop the league standings heading into the season's final week. He scored a nifty goal in the shootout as New York won over their rival Islanders.
Since he joined as a free agent in 2019, he's fourth in the league in points. He's a great player because he makes others better, as he's been able to do with 2022 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere, who's posted a breakout season of his own.
So it's clear the report says more about Gallant as a coach.
Sure, he can get the best out of his players, but there's also a notion about how he handles adversity. That incident with Panarin, on top of the well-documented argument with General Manager Chris Drury after game four, isn't the way to handle things. It explains why, despite eight midseason head coaching changes, Gallant is still without a job.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 15 | 1 ANSWERS Artemi Panarin opens up on horrible treatment from Gerard Gallant What's your take on the dynamic between Artemi Panarin and former Rangers coach Gerard Gallant? | ||
| Gallant was right to call out Panarin | 0 | 0 % |
| Gallant's public criticism was inappropriate | 0 | 0 % |
| Artemi's actions > Gallant's words | 0 | 0 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mikko Rantanen | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jake Debrusk | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Dylan Guenther | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Ivan Barbashev | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Jack Eichel | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Brock Nelson | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Jonathan Drouin | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Roman Josi | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Kirill Marchenko | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Kyle Palmieri | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matt Duchene | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Samuel Girard | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Claude Giroux | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Oliver Kylington | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anton Lundell | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||