The NY Rangers have climbed back into the playoff race with a strong 5-1 stretch, improving from 10-11-2 to 15-12-2. But according to NHL reporter Molliee Walker, the team’s fate over the next several weeks could determine whether general manager Chris Drury considers an unthinkable move: trading star winger Artemi Panarin.
Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, Walker said the Rangers’ long-term direction hinges on their ability to stay in the hunt.
“It depends if they, if they really fall off and they don’t make the playoffs again… I definitely think that there’s going to be more movement,” Walker said. “I mean, if they’re not within any reasonable distance of the playoffs by the trade deadline.
“I mean, it would be negligent on Chris Drury not to use Artemi Panarin, you know, and see what kind of haul that they can get for him, obviously.”
Panarin is in the final season of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract, which carries an $11.64 million cap hit. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026, making his future a key decision point for the franchise.
Walker mentioned that missing the postseason for a second straight year is not going to be well-received.
“So I would expect, you know, the next few weeks, especially leading up to the trade deadlines, to kind of dictate where they’re going to go,” Walker said. “But I mean, two years in a row not making the playoffs is not going to be well received.”
Despite the rumors, Panarin remains the team’s offensive driver with 30 points in 29 games, ranking among the league’s top playmakers.
NY Rangers’ season has shown elite defensive play but streaky scoring, partly due to injuries. Even so, their recent surge has pushed them back toward contention, and this means Drury will stay on the course if the team remains competitive.
Panarin’s 900th point in NY Rangers’ 4-2 win over Senators
The NY Rangers earned a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, and the biggest highlight was Artemi Panarin reaching the 900-point milestone. Panarin recorded a goal and an assist, becoming one of the fastest undrafted players in NHL history to hit 900 points.
After the game, he talked about the achievement, saying,
“It means a lot. It also means I’ve had a long time in this league.”
Mika Zibanejad, Will Borgen, and Vladislav Gavrikov also scored for the NY Rangers, while J.T. Miller added three assists. Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves as the Rangers secured their NHL-leading 12th road win.
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Edited by Ankit Kumar