Rangers entering retool, shopping Panarin — The Fourth Period
The New York Rangers are shifting their plan this season and moving forward and are going to be retooling their roster and are expected to make a few moves to augment their roster between now and the March 6 trade deadline.
In a statement released today by General Manager Chris Drury, the Rangers announced their plan and acknowledged that some roster players may be on the move.
“With our position in the standings and injuries to key players this season, we must be honest and realistic about our situation,” Drury said. “We are not going to stand pat – a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This will not be a rebuild. This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects.”
View TFP’s Trade Watch List
Soon after the team announcement, TFP’s David Pagnotta reported that the Rangers will look to trade star winger Artemi Panarin this season.
This was echoed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Rangers beat reporter Molly Walker of the New York Post, both of whom reported that the Rangers notified Panarin that he will not be offered a new contract and the team will work with his agent to try and find him a new home.
