As Rangers trade rumors swirl, Artemi Panarin ‘OK with whatever happens’
It’s not exactly breaking news that the New York Rangers face a major decision about what to do with star forward Artemi Panarin, who’s a pending unrestricted free agent at season’s end. The clock is ticking on the Rangers to either sign Panarin to a contract extension, trade him ahead of the March 6 deadline, or keep him with hopes of getting a deal done this coming off-season.
That final option appears least likely considering the massive risk of him walking away for nothing. And to what end? So, that the last-place Rangers (20-22-6) could somehow remain withing spitting distance of a playoff berth this season?
So, let’s assume an extension or trade is much more of a likely outcome.
Panarin doesn’t say much publicly about his future, but apparently he’s at peace no matter the next step.
“He told me he’s OK with whatever happens,” Rangers beat reporter Colin Stepehenson told Forever Blueshirts on the latest RINK RAP podcast.
That wasn’t always the case. Panarin’s shown little outward desire to leave the Rangers. But earlier in the season, Panarin reportedly rejected a team-friendly extension offer, and word was that he didn’t plan on handing out any hometown discount to the Rangers.
“He got off to a slow start and admitted that a couple factors played into that. Number one: he was injured in training camp and did not play in a preseason game. But he also was worried thinking too much about other things, meaning the contract negotiations,” Stephenson explained. “But then he said he got over it. He’s past that.
“So, I looked in his eye and feel like he’s fine with leaving. But obviously he has a full no-move [clause], so he has control over it. So, if you’re sending him somewhere he wants to go, I think he’s OK with it.”
Easier said than done, of course. Trading Panarin means having him waive his no-move clause, limiting the amount of potential suitors. Plus, there aren’t many (if any) true Stanley Cup contenders with the available salary cap space to add Panarin’s massive $11.643 million annual charge. So, salary retention is a must for the Rangers, and a third team to further knock down the cap hit is likely required to get a trade done.
That’s a tough needle to thread for Rangers general manager Chris Drury, though not impossible. Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, and Claude Giroux are recent examples of star players with high salaries moved ahead of the trade deadline.
Of course, we shouldn’t overlook the possibility that the Rangers prefer to find a way to work out an extension and keep their leading scorer in the Blueshirt. That’s not out of the question, though they’d have to ante up to sign Panarin, who’s getting closer by the day to an open market where, arguably, he’s the most attractive player.
Darren Dreger reported on TSN’s Insider Trading segment that the Rangers hope to have clarity on which direction they’re going with Panarin by the Feb. 6 NHL roster freeze for the Winter Olympics.
‘What’s your plan for next year’ if Rangers don’t bring back Artemi Panarin?
There are so many things in play here. Panarin’s age is one; he’ll be 35 at the start of next season. Another is that the Rangers don’t look the part of a playoff team, much less Stanley Cup contender. Plus, they’re an older team with very little in the prospects pipeline.
Parting ways with Panarin comes with risk, though. Since signing with the Rangers ahead of the 2019-20 season, only four NHL players have more points than Panarin’s 601: Connor McDavid (792), Leon Draisaitl (711), Nathan MacKinnon (694), and David Pastrnak (606). Panarin reached 600 points faster (476 games) than any player in Rangers history; and his 120 points in 2023-24 are second most in franchise history.
Simply, there’s much to appreciate about Panarin, who led the Rangers in scoring every season since signing with them. His 51 points in 47 games are again a team-high this season.
“My question, though, and my moment of pause would be what’s your plan for next year? Because right now this guy drives offense for you. He’s always your leading scorer. What do you look like if he’s not on your team? Like, who picks up that mantle?,” Stephenson put out there on the podcast.
“Presumably if you’re not going to re-sign him, who are you going to sign that’s going to get you a point a game, or 90 points in a season, or score 25 goals an set up all those other goals that Panarin does? Connor McDavid re-signed with his team. Jack Eichel re-signed with his team. Kirill Kaprizov re-signed with his team. I don’t know that there’s someone out there on the free-agent market that you could sign that will replace what Panarin gives you.”
The Rangers have plenty of salary-cap space this coming off-season, but, as Stephenson pointed out, no real superstar in free agency to pony up for. Outside of Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch, Panarin is the most attractive UFA.
That leaves the trade market as a way to find scoring help. But the Rangers really don’t have a host of attractive assets — other than their pair of first-round draft picks in the 2026 draft. That leaves a lot of pressure on the remaining core, especially talented 20-year-old Gabe Perreault.
Remember, even with Panarin, the Rangers are 30th in the NHL this season, scoring 2.58 goals per game.
“That’s why all these people who are like Trade Panarin, Trade Panarin, it’s not quite that easy because if you have visions of a retool as opposed to a full-strength rebuild then you need to replace him somehow and I just don’t know how you do that.”
