The New York Rangers are trying to trade Artemi Panarin, but the star winger holds all the cards.
With a full no-trade clause already allowing the 34-year-old to dictate where he’ll land, Panarin’s desire for a contract extension to already be in place before the trade goes through adds another wrinkle to shipping him off sooner rather than later.
His demands are obviously providing some form of pause for interested parties, considering it has been nearly a week since the Rangers opted to hold him out of any future games for roster management purposes.
In theory, the interest should be rampant, and likely is. Panarin has 57 points in 52 games this season and is the missing piece for most potential contenders. But Panarin wants a reported four-or-five-year extension worth between $11 million and $12 million per season — a hefty price even with the NHL salary cap going up.
And while the league’s trade deadline is not until March 6, a roster freeze begins at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday for the Winter Olympics and runs until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 22.
A source indicated to amNewYork that the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche are among the interested parties inquiring about Panarin. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast, though, that the Avalanche views him strictly as a rental.
Friedman also listed the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Detroit Red Wings as other potential landing spots that would be willing to offer him an extension. The Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars, like Colorado, only see him as a rental.
Panarin’s departure will be the most drastic move in Rangers general manager Chris Drury’s “re-tool,” with his team sitting in dead last in the Eastern Conference. He began the sale last week when he sent veteran defenseman Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders for a third-round draft pick.
Veteran forward Vincent Trocheck is also believed to be on the trading block, as well.
