The New York Rangers have continued to fall, and that skid has come with reports that star winger Artemi Panarin will not be extended. That means that Panarin will, almost undoubtedly, end the season on a different team. Rumours surrounding Panarin have circulated all year and it is now official as it becomes that he will be moving on at this point.
NHL Rumours with the New York Rangers and Artemi Panarin
Rumour: A new report states that the Rangers have informed Artemi Panarin that he will not be offered a new contract. The report also says that the Rangers will work with Panarin and his agent to choose the best destination for him. At least that is great news for Panarin’s camp. However, it might make it harder to find a willing trade partner.
Analysis: This confirms what analysts have said all season. The Rangers are in full sell mode, but it looks like a reserved form of selling. Rangers general manager Chris Drury said to fans that the organization will look for a “quick retool” contrary to a total rebuild.
A Message from Chris Drury to Our Fans pic.twitter.com/JVimBJ59B7
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 16, 2026
Panarin has scored 51 points in 47 games, so he is still a more than serviceable player for any team. The Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings are among the top potential landing spots. There are a few dark horse options as well, as some reports insist that the Buffalo Sabres had interest in trading for the Russian star.
Overall, Panarin has a no-move clause on his contract, so any trade will need his approval. Panarin will look to go to a Stanley Cup Playoff contending team. New York would get more for him without a team signing him to a long-term contract, but Panarin won’t go anywhere the team wishes.
One holdup is of course, his $11.6 million salary cap hit. However, teams can find a way to make it work. If you consider, that only seven teams have a projected playoff space of $15M. That means, if teams are willing to give up assets, they might be able to make this star-powered trade work.
What it means
The Carolina Hurricanes are a big contender for the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes are an elite team with an elite coach, an attractive destination for Panarin. However, signing him to a contract won’t be easy for Carolina, who just signed Nikolaj Ehlers to a big contract extension. Ehlers isn’t performing up to his contract this season, so a trade for Panarin is a solid move for a team that’s struggling offensively.
The Dallas Stars have aimed for a Stanley Cup for several seasons, and Panarin is the ideal candidate for them. The Stars have a plethora of forwards but Panarin takes the Stars over the hump. Dallas is tight on cap space, so an extension for him is highly unlikely. Even so, the Stars are willing to do whatever it takes.
For the Rangers, this report and the recent letter issued from the front office is a massive change in mentality for the organization. Big changes are on the way, and we will hear more about potential trades and who teams are targeting in the coming weeks.
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