The clock is ticking on Artemi Panarin and his future with the New York Rangers. As an NHL analyst, let me be blunt: the organization is rightfully playing “wait and see” on their 34-year-old superstar, and it’s a high-stakes gamble. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun confirmed what many of us suspect: the Rangers want to see how this season unfolds before talking extension with Panarin, who can walk as a UFA next July.
This isn’t just a simple negotiation; it’s a fundamental conflict. Panarin is lining up for his last big payday, and you can bet his camp will demand the longest term possible. The Rangers, however, are looking at a player in his mid-30s and justifiably preferring a short-term deal. This disagreement is the core of the entire situation, and this season is the audition that will decide everything.
The Contract Collision Course: Term vs. Age
From an NHL management perspective, the Rangers’ reluctance is all about risk management. Giving a massive, long-term deal to a player on the wrong side of 30, even one as dynamic as Artemi Panarin, is how teams get into salary cap trouble. The Blueshirts are likely looking at a two or three-year deal as their ideal scenario. Panarin’s camp? They’re thinking five, six, or even seven years. This is the last time he’ll have this kind of leverage, and he has to maximize it.
This is where the “wait and see” approach becomes critical. The Rangers need to know: is Panarin still a 100-point-plus driver, or will his age start to show? If he has another Hart-caliber season and carries the team deep, his leverage skyrockets. If he struggles, the Rangers gain the upper hand.
What This Season Really Means for Panarin’s Future
Ultimately, this season will determine whether Panarin has a future in New York. His performance is under a microscope. Can he justify a long-term commitment? The only way the Rangers likely consider a longer deal is if Panarin is willing to take a significant pay cut—something he was reportedly unwilling to do this past summer.
As an analyst, I see this ending one of three ways: Panarin has a monster year, and the Rangers are forced to sign him for longer than they’d like; his play declines, and the Rangers offer a short-term, “take it or leave it” deal; or the two sides remain too far apart, and the Rangers are forced to either trade his rights at the NHL trade deadline or let their star walk for nothing. The pressure is on, and every single game matters.
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