Potential Desistantions for Artemi Panarin
Peter Baugh and Vincent Z. Mercogliano: Baugh and Mercogliano write that Artemi Panarin’s time with the Rangers is coming to an end. He is the most coveted piece on the trade market. While there was some confusion on Panarin’s end, he understands the direction the team is going in, as the team was not going to offer him an extension.
NHL Rumors: New York Rangers; Panarin, Trocheck, Soucy, Schneider, and Zibanejad
However, Panarin has full control over the situation and could only demand a trade to a couple of teams. If that is the case, the Rangers will be hard-pressed to get a good return even at retaining 50 percent of his cap hit.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche don’t have many trade chips, and their biggest priority is at the third-line center position. While they have the first-round picks, they might not have the space to do so. However, the Avalanche pushed hard for him when Panarin was a free agent back in 2019.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals want to keep the window open for Alex Ovechkin, a fellow Russian player. The Capitals have the assets and cap space to get a deal done. Washington is looking for more scoring, and Panarin fits the bill.
Florida Panthers
Another popular choice recently, as we saw Brad Marchand and Claude Giroux tell their respective clubs at the time, Boston and Philadelphia, was one of two destinations they wanted to go to. Panarin knows Bobrovsky from their days in Columbus. The issue is cap space for the Panthers, as Aleksander Barkov is still on regular LTIR and not season-ending. The Panthers would need a lot of cap space to make it work.
Artemi Panarin Next Up After the Rasmus Andersson Trade
Dallas Stars
Another team is waiting to place a player on LTIR after Tyler Seguin tore his ACL, but they have not ruled him out for a return in the playoffs. Dallas could use his scoring punch, given that they are playing either Minnesota or Colorado in the first round of the playoffs. However, Dallas needs D, and who are they willing to part with to make it work for the Rangers?
Carolina Hurricanes
Expect Carolina to be in on Panarin as they have been with other free agents in the past under GM Eric Tulsky. The Rangers and Hurricanes have shown a history of being trade partners. However, Panarin has to be open to it, but there are pieces there that work.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Another desirable destination given the Russian factor of Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy. However, the Lightning have cap and asset issues.
Minnesota Wild
Wild GM Bill Guerin wants to show Kirill Kaprizov he is serious about winning. You know he will go big game hunting. Panarin would be a good fit for Kaprizov, but the Wild need centers, not wingers. So they will go after Vincent Trocheck instead. They still have a deep prospect pool to make this deal even with the Quinn Hughes trade.
NHL Rumors: Wild, Trocheck, and Three Players With Term Who Would Get Interest
Detroit Red Wings
A reunion in Detroit with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin makes sense. We saw the magic in Chicago with the Blackhawks. Kane was hurt in New York when the Rangers acquired him in 2023. The Wings have the pieces to make it work.
Vegas Golden Knights
Similar to the Minnesota Wild, the Vegas Golden Knights need a center, not another scoring winger, which they have. Oh yeah, the salary cap is playing a role in this as well. Not to mention their farm system is starting to get bare.
New York Islanders
These rivals don’t make many trades. The Islanders offered him more money back in 2019 (a different GM running the show then) and he said no. So does the fun the Islanders are having change Panarin’s mind. There are a lot of Russians there. Highly doubtful this happens.
It will be interesting to see where things go with Artemi Panarin and the New York Rangers.
