The long list of NHL rumors has brought one interesting tidbit that could lead to a bombshell trade.
Specifically, the chatter is about Artemi Panarin. The New York Rangers winger, who hasn’t played for precautionary reasons, has been awaiting a trade over the last couple of weeks.
The usual suspects have been looking to make something work. The Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers have been part of the talk to a certain extent.
Then, there are the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are Panarin’s preferred destination, as insider Vincent Mercogliano pointed out in The Athletic.
Panarin wants to go to the Florida Panthers. The Panthers would love to get Panarin. But the math just won’t work for an extension. The belief is that Florida’s shot at a third-straight Stanley Cup and tax advantages make the team attractive to Panarin.
But there’s another team that hasn’t come up in NHL rumors, until now: The Tampa Bay Lightning.
Mercogliano pointed out that the other Florida-based team could be a major player for Panarin. The Bolts are actually ahead of the Panthers in the standings, while much more willing to make a deal for a top-six winger.
In addition to the tax advantages they also offer, the Lightning have a potential edge. According to prevailing NHL rumors, the Lightning are willing to move their top prospect, Sam O’Reilly. While it would take a lot more than just O’Reilly for the Rangers to deal Panarin, the former first-round pick would be a great start.
A package built around O’Reilly could work for the Rangers. The only question would be the matter of a contract extension.
NHL Rumors Suggest Lightning Need to Move Money Out
The chatter surrounding the Lightning has focused squarely on the team needing to move money out. That could prove challenging for the Rangers. New York’s goal is not to take any toxic contracts back.
That situation could make the math tough to work out for the Bolts. A contract like Oliver Bjorkstrand’s might be able to work, especially if the Rangers are willing to retain on Panarin’s current cap hit.
But as most NHL rumors point out, the Lightning need to clear cap space to make anything work. As it stands, the Bolts are actually over the cap. Plus, there aren’t any real UFA candidates to move beyond Bjorkstrand.
That situation could make it nearly impossible for the Lightning to make a deal work.
Lightning Could Make Contract Extension Work
Assuming the Rangers and Lightning work out a deal, the Bolts could make a contract extension work.
PuckPedia projects the Lightning could have about $15 million in cap space for next season. Without any major extensions or UFAs to worry about, Tampa could work something out with Panarin.
According to NHL rumors, Panarin wants a $50 million contract spread out over various seasons. The key would be to extend the deal as long as possible in order to keep the AAV down.
But there’s another twist. The Lightning, as a Florida-based team, offers the same tax advantages as the Florida Panthers. That could be enough to entice Panarin to come down on his asking price.
In that event, Panarin may be willing to cut the Lightning a slight break and sign an extension with them. It will be interesting to see if Tampa GM Julien BriseBois can pull it off.
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