Trade Talk Intensifies: Rangers Pull Panarin Until Olympic Freeze

The Artemi Panarin era in New York appears to be over. Reports surfaced on Wednesday that the organization was holding their star out of the lineup for roster reasons, with many assuming the team was actively working on a trade and protecting Panarin from a potential injury that could complicate their ability to finalize a deal.

Further updates indicate that the Rangers will hold Panarin out of the lineup until the Feb. 4 Olympic roster freeze, and all signs point to Panarin having already played his final game in a Rangers uniform.

Panarin Trade A Priority for the Rangers

Having started their process of retooling the roster, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, the Rangers are expected to keep Panarin sidelined through the break while general manager Chris Drury works to finalize a deal.

One major wrinkle in the situation is Panarin’s contract status. The 34-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, but TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that Panarin is seeking a contract extension as part of any trade approval. In other words, he’s not looking to be moved simply as a rental.

That changes quite a bit when it comes to the teams that might take a run.

Teams Already Backing Away from a Panarin Trade?

Teams interested in Panarin will need to be comfortable not only paying a steep trade price but also committing long-term money—likely for four years at around $10 or $11 million per season.

Pierre LeBrun notes that some teams believed to be in the hunt are backing away. Drury was reportedly aiming for a return comparable to what the Islanders received for Brock Nelson last season: a first-round pick, additional picks, and a top prospect. With an extension in place, that price might change.