MSG Network play-by-play man Sam Rosen talks with The Post’s Justin Terranova about Artemi Panarin’s brilliance, the Rangers’ goalie dilemma and the impact of John Davidson’s return.
Q: What has surprised you about watching Panarin game in and game out?
A: It’s been a thrill. Just about every night something special happens. When you see the guy play you realize he’s the full package, just not a guy who is hanging at the red line waiting for a long pass on every play. No, he’s involved in the play on both ends of the ice. He’s a good team player, a superb passer, sets up many scoring chances and his ability to score on his own is tremendous. My expectations were high and he’s gone beyond them.
Q: How would you describe him behind the scenes?
A: He has a smile on his face most of the time, he’s really happy to be here. Certainly, the big contract has something to do with that. It makes you feel good about what you’ve accomplished, and now he’s proving that he’s worth it. Publicly, he’s still a little hesitant to speak so there’s an interpreter around many times postgame. But when you see him at practice and the way he mingles with teammates, you really get a feel for the way he loves the game and appreciates being a Ranger.
Q: Have you had a chance to spend a lot of time with Davidson, your former broadcast partner?
A: We haven’t spent a ton of time together because he’s very busy. What I appreciate about John is that he is a hands-on leader. He’s at the practices, on the road, he’s there’s firsthand. He’s a very positive force. It’s always about the direction the organization is heading. I’ve known him for so long, I know the way he thinks.
Q: What is the challenge of having three goalies with the team now?
A: It’s tough to get a sense of what the Rangers will do because all three are quality players. You can see their competitive nature and how badly they want to play and win. You start with Henrik Lundqvist, who has been the face of the franchise for 15 years. [Alexander] Georgiev was a surprise last year in how quickly he came on and handled playing in the NHL. Now, [Igor] Shesterkin has continued to grow as a player the way they had hoped. It’s hard. The positive side is whatever the decisions are, you are going to end up with two quality goaltenders.
Q: What was the advantage of bringing Shesterkin up now?
A: He’s been better than advertised because of the way he played at Hartford. He did everything they hoped. They wanted to see how he’d perform on the NHL level and that’ll help them make whatever decisions they are going to make for this season and the future. When they make the decision they’ll have a good handle if he’s ready for the NHL level and to this point he has been.
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