It can be said with almost perfect certainty that Artemi Panarin and the New York Rangers have reached the end of the road and are fated to go different ways now. Among the most exciting trade candidates to watch out for in the NHL right now is Panarin without a doubt.
Given Panarin’s proven record as a consistent and reliable producer, teams are expected to line up for the veteran. Amid all the chatter about Panarin’s future, an insider has offered his assessment of the likelihood that the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, will land him.
Elliotte Friedman Offers Little Hope About a Florida Panthers-Artemi Panarin Union
Despite his veteran status and the Rangers’ overall forgettable performance this season, Panarin, by habit, has been extraordinary by all means. The 34-year-old leads the team in points, having gathered 56 points in 51 games played with the Blueshirts. The Rangers, however, have made it clear that no contract extension is in the works for the winger and that the team will cooperate to help him move to any team of his choice.
In a recent episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman clarified that even though the winger could most likely be interested in playing with the defending Champions, a move between the Panthers and the Rangers for Panarin is unlikely to happen.
“So first of all, I think Panarin would love to play in Florida, but I just don’t know that that’s going to be possible. I really don’t know that that’s going to be able to happen with Bobrovsky. I just, I am not sure,” Friedman expressed on the podcast.
However, despite his qualms, the insider does not entirely rule out the possibility of such a development that takes Panarin to the Panthers. Nonetheless, the move is expected to be a challenging one to pull off. “I mean, I would never count out the Panthers doing what they have to do to get the player they want, but that’s going to be a hard one,” Friedman concluded.
Friedman also links Panarin to specific teams, such as the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, and Los Angeles Kings. Of course, Panarin has a no-movement clause, and he will play the most decisive role in how his future unfolds.
The Panthers are fresh off a hugely successful road trip that they ended with a cinematic 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. There is no room to safely conclude that the Panthers are decisively out of the Panarin sweepstakes. However, the winger’s $81.5 million contract carries a $11.6 million cap hit, which can deter many teams with potential interest in the veteran, including the Panthers.
