NYR OTT The New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/news/victor-cruz-dons-stadium-series-sweater-courtside-at-electric-knicks-game] are a tale of two seasons. They opened the season 18-4-1, but in January they were 5-7-2. A handful of player impacts have helped the team reach the top of the league and have kept the club in contention among more recent struggles. A look at the The Hockey News-New York Rangers midseason awards: ART ROSS: Artemi Panarin 66 points in 49 games Panarin leads the next-best point scorer on the team by 20 points. He is on pace for 110 points, which would be the Rangers second best single-season campaign ever behind Jaromir Jagr's 123 points in 2005-2006. ROCKET RICHARD: Artemi Panarin 30 goals in 49 games The Bread Man not only leads the Rangers in goal-scoring but is also tied for 6th best in the NHL. He is on pace to shatter his career high of 32 goals in 69 games (2019-2020). HART: Artemi Panarin (Points in 40 of 49 Possible Games) It seems redundant, but Panarin has been the team's most valuable player by miles. On a team that features Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Chris Kreider among other stars, No. 10 has been nothing short of a superstar for the Rangers this season. No matter how the team is fairing, he is delivering. NORRIS: Ryan Lindgren This was the toughest award to hand out with Adam Fox having a long-term injury in November, Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller playing hot and cold, and Erik Gustafsson having performance highs and games with less of an impact. Lindgren has been the most consistent defender. A lot of Norris votes would go to the two-way defenders, but the other top defenders on the Rangers simply have not lived up to their billing for the first 49 games. Lindgren deserves praise for his strong-willed efforts night in and night out. VEZINA: Jonathan Quick (10-4-2, 2.86 GAA, .915 SV%) Like Lindgren being the team's most consistent defender over the actual Norris winner in Adam Fox, the same goes for the goal crease. Jonathan Quick (10-4-2, 2.86 GAA, .915 SV%) is playing like a starter at 37 years old. An easy selection. SELKE: Vincent Trocheck ( +/- 0 , 61.8 FOW%) The Rangers 2024 NHL All-Star representative is arguably the best all-around player on the team this season. He has the best faceoff win percentage in the league, winning 61.8% of his draws, and his defensive efforts have led his line to become one of the best off the rush in the entire NHL. CALDER: Will Cuylle (Eight goals, six assists, 128 hits in 49 games) Cuylle has been the staple of the Blueshirt's third line this season. Outside of a brief stint from top prospect Brennan Othmann, Cuylle is the only true rookie on the roster. He's posted He is also ninth in the league in hits among all skaters at 20 years old and is on pace to break the Rangers single-season rookie hits record set by Brandon Dubinsky with 196 in 2007-2008. MASTERTON: Adam Fox/Jonny Brodzinski Luckily for the Rangers, a tragedy to the public knowledge has not hit home for any of the people on the team. Fox endured a long-term injury for the first time in his entire hockey career and came back in under a month. Brodzinski at 30 years old is getting his best NHL look since 2017-2018. The Hartford Wolf Packs' captain earned the opportunity and is playing as an NHL regular for the first time in the organization. Next season, the hope is Filip Chytil takes this award home LADY BYNG: Kaapo Kakko (Two penalty minutes in 28 games) Kakko has taken just one two-minute minor penalty in 28 games played this season, with a +3 skater rating this season. TOP STORIES:
