Artemi Panarin For MVP And More Rangers Thoughts

1. With superhuman Connor McDavid sidelined with injury and no definitive target date for his return, Artemi (The Wry Breadman) has a chance to win the NHL scoring title. Nikita Kucherov and Cale Makar, however, may disagree.

2. Adam Fox will NOT win the Norris Trophy based on his lukewarm performances lately. On the other hand, he's sure to be involved in the Upcoming Four Nations Tourney, along with Chris Kreider.

3. The less Mika Zibanejad scores, the more absurd his $8.5 million contract looks. The Maven says, more cockeyed than the Leaning Tower Of Pisa.

4. The Maven can't figure whether Mika is over the hill or the NHL mountain is too hard for The old Z man to ascend any more.

5. The jury is "out" on Reilly Smith; nor will it reconvene until April. (My Pitt spy insists that Smitty had an inferior second half with the Pens last season.)

6. The jury is "in" for Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafrenière, each of whom is en route to a career season.

7. Breadman Panarin is rated in tenth place among The Hockey News' Yearbook's "Top 50 Players In The NHL."

8. Right now I put him ahead of (1) McDavid because Connor is hurting, (3) Leon Draisaitl because the Oilers are rusty; and (7) Auston Matthews because the Maple Leafs are falling already.

9. Fiery Fil Chytil escaped another concussion on Sunday afternoon only because Isles defenseman Scott Mayfield never caught up to him after Fil's un-kosher crosscheck.

10. Had Mayfield gotten through the minefield, Chytil would have felt what Ryan Lindgren's jaw absorbed from Mayfield's mauling mitt. Ergo: POW! Right in the kisser!

11. Have you seen Matt Rempe's commercial? The Skating Giraffe's future may be more in Hollywood than Hartford.

12. I can't wait for one of the NHL crack reporter-insiders – most likely Elliotte Friedman or Kevin Weekes – to get through to Iggy Shesterkin's agent Max Moliver.

13. Surely, Slapsy Maxie has something to say about the state of Shesty negotiations and whether he's stopped talking $ with Chris Drury 'til season's end.

14. The Rangers quest for a second-straight Presidents' Trophy is looking good – for the moment at least.

15. As for their quest for The Stanley Cup? See me an hour after the Trade Deadline!