LAS VEGAS — Artemi Panarin had an interpreter helping him communicate, but he fully understood the question. It was one that he had heard many times before.
When asked if it felt right to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, considering he is 24 and had previously played in the Kontinental Hockey League, the Russian-born forward did not have to take long to think of an answer.
“I think it’s fair, because the rules are the rules and I didn’t write the rules,” Panarin said through an interpreter. “I’m very glad to win … not necessarily for winning the award but recognizing the journey I had to take.