The New York Rangers would have already made a massive deal if not for the Artemi Panarin extension holding up the deal. Panarin and his camp are adamant about agreeing to a deal with a contract in place.
That’s been the biggest issue keeping the deal from going through. While most observers believe that Panarin’s no-trade clause is the biggest hurdle, it’s actually getting the deal he wants. Specifically, it’s the dollar amount the Russian forward seeks.
In the latest edition of his 32 Thoughts Podcast, insider Elliotte Friedman noted the precise asking price for a Panarin extension. Friedman noted that Panarin’s people are asking for $50 million. The only situation seemingly negotiable is the number of years.
Under such circumstances, suitors could decide whether to sign Panarin for four, five, or even six years. For instance, $50 million over four years works out to $12.5 million per season. The same number of five years would work out to $10 million per season, and so on.
That’s a mind-shocking number when considering that very few teams can afford to take on such a contract. Rebuilding teams like the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, or Detroit Red Wings could take on the cap hit. However, they are wary of doing so, as Friedman noted, given the number of contracts they will have to sign down the line.
While Friedman believes that a deal could happen before the Olympics, there’s really no telling if that will be the case. The most important thing at this point is working out a Panarin extension before a deal gets over the line.
Capitals Eager but Only with Panarin Extension in Place
One of the names believed to be most eager to land Panarin is the Washington. The Capitals want to make a deal work, but only if there is an extension in tow.
That’s an interesting situation considering that both the player and the team want a contract. However, it seems that Panarin isn’t all too keen on landing in Washington. The connection to Alexander Ovechkin doesn’t seem to have much traction, as Panarin and Ovechkin are not reportedly very close.
That said, if an amenable Panarin extension does happen, Washington could be the frontrunner to land the Russian superstar.
Could Panarin Land on the Free-Agent Market?
Despite all the chatter, there could be a scenario in which Panarin heads to another club as a rental. For example, the Colorado Avalanche are a team noted as having interest in Panarin as a rental.
In that case, Colorado would be willing to take a shot without a Panarin extension in place. That scenario would lead to the sniper hitting the open market in the summer. Friedman noted that if such a situation played out, the Philadelphia Flyers might be a club willing to take a major swing at Panarin.
It seems like a bit of a long shot, but the Flyers have had their eye on Panarin. Friedman cautioned that the Flyers could be a surprise team under the right circumstances. They have pieces and are willing to work on a Panarin extension.
Panarin Extension Mind-Shocking Number Revealed by Insider