Rangers' Artemi Panarin shaves his head in an attempt to bust slump

GREENBURGH – In trying to find some way of getting his team to score some goals, Mike Sullivan changed his forward lines at practice Thursday.

Artemi Panarin shaved his head.

“It's about changing something,’’ Panarin said when asked why he got rid of his hair. “The next step is a left stick for me [Panarin is a righthanded shooter]. If this doesn't work, after that, I’ll play with [defenseman Urho] Vaakanainen's stick.’’

Panarin, who turned 34 last week, has struggled this season, managing only seven points (two goals and five assists) in 14 games. That includes one game in Montreal in which he had four points (one goal, three assists) in a 4-3 victory. He has gone pointless in six straight games.

“He's working at it,’’ Sullivan said. “Obviously we're relying on him to produce offensively and drive off, and so we're trying to help him work through some of the challenges. We’ve had him on a number of different lines. I try to do my best to stay out of his way offensively and allow him to do his thing.’’

Sullivan said he did not suggest to Panarin that he shave his head.

Panarin shaved his head once before, the summer of 2023, after the Rangers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Devils. He scored a career-high 49 goals and 120 points in the 2023-24 season.

Greetings from Tarrytown. Looks like Panarin cut his hair. Also, Trocheck still in a red jersey today. pic.twitter.com/TGErJHQNNe

— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) November 6, 2025

Here’s a better look at Panarin and Trocheck. pic.twitter.com/HmznnVmqPK

— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) November 6, 2025

“It worked pretty well [then],’’ he said. “But I don't know about that right now.’’

Notes & quotes: Sullivan shuffled his lines at practice, putting J.T. Miller between wingers Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere and putting Taylor Raddysh on the right of Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. The third line is Connor Sheary-Noah Laba-Jonny Brodzinski and the fourth line has Jaroslav Chmelar poised to make his NHL debut alongside Sam Carrick and Juuso Parssinen . . .  Vaakanainen (lower-body injury) missed his second straight practice, but made the trip to Detroit for Friday’s game. C Vincent Trocheck practiced in a non-contact jersey and also made the trip to Detroit, though Sullivan said he won’t play Friday.