Can Panarin Up His Value If He Waives For Contender in Deadline Trade?

According to Nick Kypreos, Artemi Panarin is a name to watch out of the New York Rangers organization. The NHL analyst and columnist wonders if a trade were to materialize, would Panarin be open to waiving his trade protection for a contender, then upping his value around the NHL as he hits free agency?

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It’s a strategy that has worked for older players in the past.

Kypreos writes:

“If the Rangers slide out much more and end up selling, Artemi Panarin is the player to watch. He has a no-movement clause and could quietly stay until it expires, but it would be in his interest to take a page out of Brad Marchand’s book and waive it to join a Stanley Cup contender. By lifting his no-trade clause from Boston last season, and going on to win the Cup with Florida, Marchand put over $20 million in his pocket by raising his value.”

Related: Adam Fox Suddenly Has Another Reason to Question the Rangers Motives

Kypreos suggests that if the New York Rangers continue to slide in the standings and shift into seller mode, Panarin is the player who stands to gain the most by being open to a move. While the team has several valuable pieces, Panarin’s situation is unique because he controls his own fate more than anyone else on the roster.

Panarin has a no-movement clause in his contract, meaning the Rangers cannot trade him unless he gives his approval. However, staying with a team headed in the wrong direction may not be the most beneficial move for him personally.

It could be in Panarin’s best interest to waive his no-movement clause and allow a trade to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. If he competes for and wins a championship, like Marchand, it could place him in a high-leverage situation where teams will be ready to make him a great UFA offer.

Marchand chose to lift his no-trade protection to leave Boston and join the Florida Panthers. The move resulted in a Stanley Cup win and significantly boosted his value around the league. He had several teams looking at him this past summer and signed a big extension with the Panthers at the age of 37.

Few probably figured Marchand would get another $20 million in his NHL career, but it worked to make the move and partially reinvent himself.

For Panarin, the lesson is clear: waiving trade protection at the right time isn’t just about chasing a Cup — it can be a smart business decision that pays off long after the season ends. And as Kypreos points out, Panarin isn’t going to get $9-10 million per season from the Rangers.

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