Trade Rumors Surface After Rumored Rift Between Rangers and Panarin

In what will come as shocking news to a number of fans, Arthur Staple of The Athletic recently wrote in an article about the New York Rangers and which players stay and which players go, that Artemi Panarin might actually ask for a trade out of the Rangers organization. Following what many are calling a disappointing playoff performance, the narrative around New York is that something might be off between the two sides.

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Placing him in the “Staying put but for how long” category of his “Who stays and who goes” article, Staple writes:

This was a tough category to place the team’s leading scorer in. And given Panarin’s full no-move clause for the remaining four years of his contract, it’s darn near impossible to see him going anywhere. However, two league sources said Drury was vocally unhappy about Panarin’s play in the postseason, when he had 16 points in 20 games but not the consistent impact anyone around the Rangers hoped for or needed. If there’s a rift, Panarin could ask out, as near-impossible as it would be to move this mammoth contract.

The Rangers went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and Panarin was a key reason. Perhaps Drury’s frustration comes at a time where the franchise is simply disappointed in their elimination and thinking they had a legitimate chance to go to the Final, but Panarin and the Rangers splitting would be a huge deal.

Staple is also correct when he says this is a huge deal that a team would have to be willing to take on and that won’t be easy for many teams. Panarin makes more than $11.6 million over the next four seasons. He’ll certainly deliver production, but that kind of cash just isn’t lying around for everyone and the teams that have it aren’t necessarily going to be teams that Panarin will waive his no-move clause to join.

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