Rangers Daily: Asking price for Panarin; Islanders coach benches top line
This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, but the New York Rangers reportedly are using the Brock Nelson trade from a year ago as the framework for what their asking price is for Artemi Panarin ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.
Nelson was a pending unrestricted free agent, when the Islanders traded the veteran center to the Colorado Avalanche along with forward prospect William Dufour in exchange for a first- and third-round draft pick and top forward prospect Calum Ritchie.
“It sounds like that’s where the Rangers starting point is, with Panarin right now” Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday Headlines on Sportsnet.
The draft picks are important, of course. But landing Ritchie was key for the Islanders. And you can bet that the Rangers want to land a similar emerging NHL player when they trade Panarin.
Ritchie was Colorado’s top prospect, a 2023 first-round pick, who was on the cusp of becoming an NHL regular at the age of 20. Needing an infusion of talented young NHL-ready talent, the Rangers absolutely must bring back at least one of those players in any Panarin trade, if not more. Let’s just remember that stockpiling all of those first-round picks in the first retool didn’t exactly work out so great for the Rangers.
“Now part of this is will he be willing to sign an extension. Are their places — he has a no-move clause so he controls where he goes — but I think some of the teams are wondering if an extension could be a part of this,” Friedman added.
A contract extension as part of a trade requirement by Panarin an/or his potential new team benefits the Rangers. Though it could complicate some trade talks, in the end the Rangers receive more in return for Panarin if he’s not simply a rental.
So, that’s why the Nelson trade package is viewed as a starting point for the Rangers. Though he eventually signed a three-year contract with the Avalanche in June, there was no extension in place with Nelson when the trade was consummated.
Friedman mentioned the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and Washington Capitals as possible destinations for Panarin. Though he added, “I concede that I’m always missing teams that are in on this.”
New York Rangers news and analysis
Without providing any further information or clarity, former Rangers center Filip Chytil dismissed speculation about the number of concussions he’s had. Chytil returned from a three-month injury absence Friday for the Vancouver Canucks in a 5-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Here’s a closer look at why the Rangers’ lack of urgency in the third period of a 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks was so concerning Friday.
Of course, as John Kreiser points out in his key Rangers takeaways after that loss, another brutal start is what really buried the Blueshirts at the Shark Tank.
NHL news and rumors
New York Post: Islanders coach Patrick Roy benched his top line of Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Anders Lee for the entire third period of their 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, after Barzal and Duclair failed to give much of an effort trying to stop Tage Thompson’s breakaway goal in the second period.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: So, Evgeni Malkin said earlier in the week he plans to play another season in the NHL. But Dan Kingerski reports that there’s no contract offer from the Penguins on the table, nor is it known what GM Kyle Dubas’ plan is with the future Hall of Famer.
TSN: Coming off a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs canceled practice Saturday, with coach Craig Berube pointing to a lack of energy by his team — a rest day better than grinding through another day on the ice in this condensed and crushing NHL schedule.
Daily Faceoff: As the trade rumors swirl, here’s a breakdown of where Elias Pettersson could best fit if the Vancouver Canucks decide to move their top center ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols reports that — not surprisingly — trade talks involving Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton slowed in the wake of teammate Luke Hughes sustaining a separated shoulder.
Florida Hockey Now: Gotta love the Brad Marchand effect on the Panthers. Marchand returned from a seven-game injury absence and scored two goals — including the overtime winner — and assisted on the tying tally, in a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Sportsnet: What a night for Evan Bouchard. Playing in his 400th NHL game, Bouchard joined Bobby Orr as the only defensemen in NHL history to record six points and eight shots on goal in the same game. Bouchard notched his first career hat trick and added three assists to help the Edmonton Oilers skate to a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
