Artemi Panarin, agent seek $50 million ‘home run’ in Rangers trade: report
Though Elliotte Friedman concedes he’s hearing “a lot of conflicting information” about the New York Rangers’ efforts to trade Artemi Panarin, there are some important details that are becoming clear to the respected NHL insider.
Most importantly, Friedman reported that Panarin not only wants a contract extension in place with an acquiring team before waiving his no-move clause, but has a very definite, round number in mind for that extension.
Fifty million dollars.
“If you’re going to get Panarin, he is going to try and hit a contract home run even though he’s 34 years old. And the number I was hearing, and a few teams backed me on this, was 50 million,” Friedman stated Friday on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “That’s the number Panarin hopes to get to, and the teams could break it down as much as they did. Do you want to make it 4 x 12.5, do you want to make it 5 x 10?
“Obviously, that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Maybe there’s some situations that he likes that say we can’t go there and this is what we can do. But I think that’s the target … and we’ll see if he gets there.”
The Rangers are working closely with Panarin’s agent, Paul Theofanous, to move the star forward to a destination of his choosing. That in itself requires some heavy lifting. The contract extension — and this hefty price tag — makes it even more difficult. And it’s unknown which teams Panarin is considering, and how many of those are willing to trade for him, especially with an extension on top of it all.
In essence, this is the trade deadline and free agency all rolled into one for Panarin.
“The agent … is driving a lot of this bus,” Friedman said. “This is a player and agent out to hit a home run.”
Earlier this season, Panarin reportedly rebuffed a team-friendly extension offer from the Rangers. After their season unraveled, the Rangers informed Panarin in mid-January that no contract extension was forthcoming and that they would trade him instead.
That apparently surprised Panarin, who led the Rangers in scoring each of his first six seasons with them after signing a whopping seven-year, $81.5 million contract on July 1, 2019. Earlier this week, the Rangers decided to scratch Panarin for “roster management purposes” as they pursued making a trade.
The NHL roster freeze begins Feb. 4 and runs through the Winter Olympics. So either the Rangers move Panarin before then or wait until the window between Feb 22 – March 6, the day of the NHL Trade Deadline.
Which teams are in on a possible Artemi Panarin trade with Rangers?
Friedman listed 15 teams that he’s heard have varying levels of interest in Panarin. However, only a handful have interest in a contract extension. And who knows which ones, or how many, Panarin actually would waive his no-move clause for?
The Sportsnet hockey insider stated that the Washington Capitals “only do this with an extension.” So, if Panarin has interest in them, the Capitals could be near the top of the list of trade options.
Per Friedman, Panarin “really wants to go” to the Florida Panthers. But that’s a major long shot considering the Panthers’ salary-cap situation and dearth of prospects and draft capital. As important, Friedman stated “I don’t see [Panthers GM Bill Zito} extending Panarin at that number.”
The Colorado Avalanche are interested “but can’t do it as an extension.” The Anaheim Ducks are “willing” to make a deal if Panarin’s a rental “and then make that call” after the fact on an extension.
Friedman also listed the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, Vegas Golden Knights, and Philadelphia Flyers as teams with varying levels of interest in Panarin.
And there’s no expectation that any Panarin deal gets done today, or this weekend. It could happen. But it’s more likely to take a while.
“The Rangers probably have to figure out where he wants to go, and he has to figure out where he wants to go,” Friedman concluded. “Like, what’s most important to him? Who can give him the biggest contract? Or a fit or a location? It sounds like this is going to take a couple of days.”
