Following the blockbuster Rasmus Andersson trade between the Calgary Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights, there is enough reason to believe that the NHL community can expect to hear more shocking trade news soon, as we approach the trade deadline. Among some potential trade candidates to closely follow, the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin stands out.
Insider Assesses Viability of Edmonton Oilers Trading for Artemi Panarin
The Rangers’ front office has sent a clear message: Panarin will not be offered a contract extension. The veteran winger is in the last year of his contract with the team and, as things stand, will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Chris Drury has also expressed his interest in cooperating with Panarin to find a solution regarding his future. For the teams that are interested in Panarin, there is no reason to dilly-dally any further. How about the Oilers in that case?
Writing for The Athletic, Allan Mitchell believes that if Stan Bowman completes a trade to acquire Panarin, it could be quite an excellent move. However, the Rangers will want, and perhaps rightly so, quite a hefty return. “It would require trading Adam Henrique, plus the Rangers retaining salary. Add a first-round draft pick, a top prospect or possibly more, depending on the quality of other offers.”
Mitchell further explained that forward Andrew Mangiapane, whose name has also recently surfaced in trade rumors, might be part of a different deal that could come to fruition sooner rather than later. “Andrew Mangiapane would need to go in a separate deal, and that could happen soon (no retention would be key). The idea is a perfect fit for the team’s needs.”
But then again, while acquiring Panarin naturally sounds good, it would require a lot of things to go right for the trade to happen. “Panarin would have to waive his no-movement clause, and that’s a lot of ‘ifs,’ but it’s a fantastic hockey trade in theory,” Mitchell argued.
Also Read: Insider Flags Next Big NHL Trade Domino To Fall Following Vegas’s Rasmus Andersson Move
Moreover, Bowman and Panarin are familiar with each other since their Chicago Blackhawks days. It was Bowman who would eventually trade Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets, kickstarting his Eastern Conference days. Since then, Panarin has not looked back one bit. Despite the Rangers’ forgettable season, the veteran winger’s performance has continued to speak for itself.
Bowman ought to have noticed Panarin’s growth on the ice, and there always remains the possibility, despite the significant material costs expected to accompany a Panarin trade, that the Oilers consider it.
Edmonton also has a robust prospect pool to deal from if they wish to go down that route.
Given the uptick in goaltending and the fact that McDavid’s extension has put them on the clock, pushing all their chips in on Panarin may possibly be the move that puts them over the hump after successive Stanley Cup Final heartbreaks.
