Nov 20, 2025: New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin refuses a pay cut. Discover why the Hurricanes and Wild are circling and what it means for the deadline.
The era of the “Breadman” in New York may be reaching a stale conclusion. According to Adam Fox of Sportsnet, Artemi Panarin has made it clear he is unwilling to accept a pay cut to remain with the New York Rangers, despite being 34 years old and seeing a dip in production.
With an $11.6 million cap hit and the Rangers potentially retooling, the writing is on the wall. If the Blueshirts aren’t firmly in a playoff spot by the March 6 trade deadline, management could ask Panarin to waive his no-movement clause. Two teams are already surfacing as potential landing spots: the Carolina Hurricanes and the Minnesota Wild. But does a move make sense?
Expert Insight: Rental Risk vs. Reward for Carolina and Minnesota
As someone who has watched the Rangers’ cap gymnastics for years, this situation was inevitable. Panarin wants to be paid for his past performance, but the Rangers need to pay for their future.
Let’s look at the Hurricanes. They are in desperate “win-now” mode. We saw them swing for the fences with Mikko Rantanen last season, only to flip him weeks later when extension talks soured. Carolina isn’t afraid of big moves, but they are wary of long-term commitments to aging stars. Panarin fits their need for elite playmaking, but if he is looking for another massive ticket entering his late 30s, Carolina might hesitate. They want a piece of the puzzle for the next three years, not just three months.
Then there is the Minnesota Wild. On paper, Panarin slotting into their second-line left wing sounds dangerous. However, the Wild’s DNA usually screams for center depth, not another winger. While Panarin adds undeniable star power, is he the grit they need for a Western Conference playoff run?
My Verdict: If I’m Chris Drury, I’m calling Carolina. The Rangers aren’t interested in “status quo” paychecks for declining assets. If Panarin won’t budge on the money, he has to budge on the location. Expect this chatter to reach a fever pitch as March approaches.
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