New York Rangers season snapshot fantasy honors

With the NHL pausing the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, NHL.com is taking stock of each of the League's 31 teams.
Today, a fantasy recap of the New York Rangers at the pause:
NOTE: Rank for most-valuable fantasy player is based on standard-category production to date.

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 250
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100 forwards
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50 D-men
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Season snapshots
Fantasy MVP: Artemi Panarin, LW (rank: 4) --He's tied with David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins for third in the NHL with 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 69 games. Panarin's first season with the Rangers has been nothing short of remarkable, and it's impressive he's done it mostly on a separate line from elite center Mika Zibanejad (rank: 14) at even strength. Panarin leads the NHL with 71 even-strength points, five more than the next-closest player, Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers.

Biggest surprise: Ryan Strome, C/RW --He's having a breakout season with an NHL career-high 59 points (18 goals, 41 assists) in 70 games mostly skating on a line with Panarin. Strome, who can become a restricted free agent after the season, is performing well in a contract year and looks to have developed solid chemistry with Panarin. Strome's plus-21 rating is third on the Rangers behind Panarin (plus-36) and defenseman Adam Fox (plus-22), and his 41 even-strength points are third behind Panarin and Zibanejad (43).

Unsung hero: Igor Shesterkin, G -- The rookie has lived up to the hype since being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League, going 10-2-0 with a .932 save percentage in his first 12 NHL games. Shesterkin's save percentage is second behind Chris Driedger of the Florida Panthers (.938) among NHL goalies to play at least 12 games. There's a direct correlation between Shesterkin's first start Jan. 7 and the Rangers' climb into contention for a Stanley Cup Playoff spot; they are 18-10-1 since (37 points; fifth in NHL).

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