Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Artemi Panarin reportedly shut down a Seattle Kraken trade, and the New York Rangers now have to sell a superstar who controls the door.
The buzz Sunday is that New York had framework with Seattle, but Panarin said no and used his full no-move clause to do it.
That clause is the whole story here. Chris Drury can shop, call, and posture, but Panarin picks the destination.
The fit with the Kraken always felt tricky. Panarin’s camp has been tied to the idea of an extension, not a pure rental.
Seattle’s hook was obvious: Shane Wright. He’s 22, a 2022 first-round pick, and the Seattle Kraken took him fourth overall.
Elliotte Friedman also floated the same lane, with Seattle dangling a “Wright-plus” concept for a real difference-maker like Panarin.
If you’re Drury, you at least listen. Panarin has 57 points this season, and that kind of play-driving doesn’t hit the market cleanly very often.
“The New York Rangers had a deal in place to move Artemi Panarin to the Seattle Kraken, likely for a package including Shane Wright, and for now, Panarin has rejected the move. The Russian winger has a full no-movement clause and is well within his right to make things difficult for Rangers’ GM Chris Drury.”
But Seattle is a tougher sell if Panarin wants a ready-made Cup lane and an extension number that matches his leverage.
Artemi Panarin holds New York Rangers leverage hostage
I myself and several fans are tired of feeling like every headline ends with “player decides,” even when the team is clearly trying to reset.
This is also cap math. Panarin’s cap hit is $11.64 million, so plenty of teams need retention, a third team, or real creativity to make it work.
That is why the Kraken angle mattered. Seattle can actually make money fit, and they have a premium chip if Wright is truly in play.
Still, a veto is a message. Panarin is telling the Rangers he’s not taking just any exit ramp, and he’s not letting this become a random hockey trade.
The Rangers have to pivot fast. Every “almost” deal tightens the timeline and shrinks the leverage, especially if the league knows Panarin has a short list.
Now the real question is simple: who can offer Panarin the extension comfort he wants, and who can offer Drury the return he needs?
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
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Major development: Artemi Panarin reportedly vetoes trade to Western Conference following substantial offer
Do you think Artemi Panarin made the right move by not waiving his no-movement clause for Seattle?