The Calgary Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights just sent shockwaves across the NHL through the Rasmus Andersson trade. Rumours surrounding the defenseman’s future had grown unabated, and after much build-up, have finally culminated in a fitting climax. As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the community is rife with speculation about several players whose names have been caught in the rumor vortex for a while now.
According to an insider, a standout veteran winger could be one of the most interesting candidates to keep an eye on in the coming days.
New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin Trade Could Soon Come to Fruition
There is no guessing anymore about Panarin’s future with the Rangers. Chris Drury has stated that the team won’t be offering a contract extension to the winger. It is tough to say why things would take such a turn within the Rangers’ brass, but amid a dreadful season, there is news that a retool could soon follow.
“Drury wrote that the organization would undergo ‘a retool built around our core players and prospects,'” Sportsnet staff reported.
Insider Elliotte Friedman has shared that Panarin has been further informed that Drury is willing to cooperate to bring to fruition the veteran’s desire to move to any destination he likes. Exciting news about Panarin might be announced to the community sooner than anyone anticipates.
Writing for The Athletic, Chris Johnston highlighted why a move is imminent. Now that the Rangers GM has informed that no contract extension is possible, given the kind of player Panarin is, there is no reason why any team with legitimate interest in the winger would decide to wait around.
“Players of this quality are rarely traded in the middle of the season in the NHL, but the Rangers have made it clear they won’t be signing the pending unrestricted free agent to a new contract and would like to move him to a destination of his choosing. He’s been New York’s leading point producer in all seven seasons since arriving on Broadway and remains one of the NHL’s elite playmakers,” Johnston wrote on the subject.Â
Notwithstanding his age and the Rangers’ collective failure this season, Panarin remains a formidable figure. “Panarin is also a serious threat to score goals, as evidenced by recent seasons of 37 and 49. He’s got game-breaking offensive ability, plain and simple. He’s also got full control over the trade process thanks to a no-movement clause in his contract.”
Panarin is likely to generate plenty of interest across the league, and it’s only a matter of time before the community learns of a blockbuster deal involving the veteran winger.
