The New York Rangers are starting to get an idea of where Artemi Panarin wants to play next. The Russian superstar is widely expected to be traded ahead of the March 6 deadline. This comes as Rangers GM Chris Drury publicly revealed that the club will not re-sign the winger to an extension. Panarin is currently in the final months of his seven-year, $81.5 million ($11.6 million AAV) deal.
Although New York wants to get the most value for their best player, the situation is fairly complicated. Due to a no-move clause in his contract, Panarin holds all of the power in the situation. He can essentially choose his next team. Several clubs have been linked with the star in recent weeks, but details on the winger’s preferred destination are starting to take shape.
According to The Athletic’s Vince Mercogliano, sources are indicating that the Russian would like to remain in the Eastern Conference. “If all things were equal, I sense that Panarin would prefer to stay on the East Coast,” writes Mercogliano. “His family is comfortable here, his father-in-law works as a scouting consultant for the Philadelphia Flyers, and it’s a much easier trip to Russia from this time zone.”
The Rangers beat writer went on to claim that three separate sources point directly to the Florida Panthers. Not only are the reigning Stanley Cup champions on the East Coast, but Panarin is close friends with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The Russian stars were previously teammates with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2017 to 2019.
New York Rangers Likely Receiving Plenty of Calls About Artemi Panarin
GettyArtemi Panarin currently leads the New York Rangers in assists and points on the 2025-26 season.
A potential deal between New York and Florida, however, has its issues. As Mercogliano points out, the Panthers have the second-highest salary cap hit in the NHL. They simply do not have the money to afford Panarin. This problem becomes even more amplified when Florida’s Aleksander Barkov returns to the ice after recovering from an ACL injury. The club’s captain carries a $10 million AAV.
If Florida cannot handle most of Panarin’s hefty contract, the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes would likely be in the mix. The Capitals were even recently labeled as frontrunners to sign the star. After all, Washington has money, pieces to trade, and a willingness to bring in a top-six player. The same also applies to Carolina.
Although Panarin may want to remain in the same time zone, a move out west cannot be ruled out. In this scenario, the veteran would likely become a short-term rental for a team like the Dallas Stars or Colorado Avalanche. The Anaheim Ducks or Los Angeles Kings may be an option as well. The star has a history with Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville.
New York is Allowing Star Player to Speak With Other Clubs
As The Athletic previously pointed out, Panarin would likely rather move once rather than twice. This means that he seemingly prefers to be traded to a team along with an extension in place. The 34-year-old veteran is also looking to keep playing towards his 40th birthday. If so, this would limit the teams he could go to in the coming weeks.
To help facilitate his wishes, Mercogliano also reports that the Rangers have granted Panarin permission to speak to other teams regarding an extension. The specific clubs involved, however, were not revealed. Either way, New York fans will be hoping for the best possible deal for their beloved team.
Rangers Learning Artemi Panarin’s Preferred Trade Destination