The Rangers have announced that Artemi Panarin has been named the Rangers MVP for the 2023-24 Regular season.
The team also announced that Jonathan Quick, as voted on by his teammates, was named the winner of the “Players’ Player Award.”
The Players’ Player Award has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1958-59 season and recognizes the Ranger who, as selected by his teammates, “best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.”
From the Rangers:
- Heading into the final game of the regular season, Panarin has tallied a career-high 48 goals, and 70 assists for a career-high 118 points in 81 games. His point total is the second most for a Rangers skater in a single season (Jaromir Jagr – 123 points in 2005-06) and the fourth highest in the NHL this year. Panarin has notched a point in 66 of his 81 games this year, establishing the franchise record for the most games with a point. Panarin has collected milestones along the way, including the playing of his 600th career game on November 2, establishing a career-long 15 game point streak, and recording his 700th career point on December 12. The Most Valuable Player Award was voted on by members of the New York Rangers media and has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1941-42 season. This is Panarin’s second win (2019-20).
- Quick has a 18-6-2 record in 27 games in his first season with the Rangers, along with a 2.62 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and two shutouts. Last week, Quick was named the team’s nominee for the Masterton Trophy, awarded for perseverance, sportsmanship & dedication to the sport of hockey. On March 30 in Arizona, Quick became the all-time wins leader (392) among American-born goaltenders, surpassing Ryan Miller. The Milford, Connecticut native began his tenure with a 9-0-1 mark, becoming the first goalie in franchise history to notch points in his first 10 decisions.
Adam Rotter: Panarin as Team MVP was obvious. He’s close to breaking, but likely won’t unless he has a monster game tonight, the single-season record for points and goals. He’s been so good this season, but his strong season also brings with it the hope and expectation that he will continue to play this way in the playoffs. I don’t think his season is worth nothing if he struggles or the team struggles in the playoffs, especially because they wouldn’t get to the playoffs without him, but it would cast it in a different light and only put more pressure on him next season.
With Quick, everyone loves him as a guy and a teammate and he has given them even more to love with his excellent season. He didn’t need to play this year and he’s already a Hall of Famer, but he signed on at basically the league minimum, worked his butt off and played a major role in the Rangers success while Igor Shesterkin was getting things figured out. The Rangers probably never imagined he would be as integral to this season as he was and this award recognizes that.