New Artemi Panarin Trade Rumors Link Landing Spots for Rangers Star Ahead of NHL Deadline

Almost half of the NHL has expressed interest in a potential trade for New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin, Kevin Weekes reported Thursday.

The Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders have all shown interest in Panarin, according to Weekes.

Weekes added that more clubs are expected to join the list.

Panarin is playing this season on an expiring $11.6 million contract with a full no-move clause, per PuckPedia.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday that the Rangers are not expected to play Panarin again before Feb. 4, when teams have to freeze rosters ahead of the Olympic break.

The roster freeze goes into effect at 3 p.m. ET next Tuesday and will last until 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 22.

Panarin's no-move clause means the Rangers have to get his approval before agreeing to a trade.

The Athletic and TSN's Chris Johnston reported Wednesday that Panarin wants an extension on the table from his next team before agreeing to a deal.

According to The Athletic's Vincent Z. Mercogliano, the Rangers have given Panarin's representatives permission to negotiate with other teams in hopes of facilitating a trade.

The news comes after Rangers general manager Chris Drury said in a letter to fans published earlier this month that he doesn't plan "to stand pat" and is working on "a retool built around our core players and prospects."

One team notably not on the list of trade suitors listed by Weekes is the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Mercogliano wrote Wednesday that he had spoken to three people who believe the Panthers would be Panarin's top choice "for multiple reasons, including his tight friendship with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky."

The Panthers might be restricted from making that move, however, in part because of the stricter injured reserve rules put into place this season.

Aleksander Barkov has been on IR since suffering a severe right knee injury in September, but Florida can only get full cap relief from his absence by placing him on season-ending injured reserve and ruling out a potential comeback for the playoffs.

Panarin has remained a point-per-game player in his age-34 season, with 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 52 games for a struggling Rangers team. He's two seasons removed from ranking among the most productive players in the NHL during his 49-goal, 120-point 2023-24 campaign.

Whichever teams try to trade for Panarin will hope adding a winger of his caliber will boost their chances of contending for a postseason berth or a Stanley Cup. Convincing Panarin he'll have a chance to win could potentially play a role in getting the Rangers star to waive his NMC and agree to a trade-and-sign deal this spring.