Rangers Trading Artemi Panarin? Why? Why NOT? Where?
Rangers Getting Lots of call on Artemi Panarin.
The NY Rangers are indeed struggling out of the block, and with so many teams towards the top looking to get the jump on what will be a highly competitive playoff race, it is not at all, surprising that the Rangers are receiving calls from many teams regarding UFA to be Artemi Panarin.
So the question is…Why would the Rangers keep Panarin and why would they trade him?
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Panarin remains an elite offensive player. He has averaged 1.28 points per game since joining the Rangers and led the team in scoring for six straight seasons.
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He is a fan- and brand-favorite in New York. His presence drives jersey sales, ticket interest, and marketability.
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The Rangers believe they are still in a competitive window (with players like Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, etc.) and keeping Panarin supports that contention mindset.
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Contract & age concerns: Panarin is entering the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 M deal (about $11.64 AAV) and will become an UFA next summer. As he nears his mid-30s, the risk of decline increases.
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Cap & flexibility: With his large cap hit and term expiring, trading him would free up significant cap space and allow the Rangers to reallocate resources for other needs.
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Window timing / organizational direction: If the team assesses it is no longer firmly in the “Cup-contender” tier, it might be better to convert Panarin into younger assets rather than see him leave for nothing.
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Potential “sell-high” moment: Given his elite recent production, the Rangers could leverage his value now to extract a strong return, rather than run the risk of value declining.
Does Panarin want to stay? If he signals he won’t sign a long‐term extension (or wants an AAV the Rangers consider too steep), it raises the trade urgency. Where do the Rangers see themselves this season? Ownership wants a clear read on the team’s trajectory before making a move on Panarin. What return can they get? The trade value for a player of his caliber is high, but age, term left, and contract size will all factor into how much they can demand. How do the Rangers replace his points?
What teams are interested…
So far I have heard Vancouver, Minnesota, Ottawa, Utah, and Edmonton….
