Artemi Panarin is not expected to play for the Rangers again before the Olympics. Stan Szeto / Imagn Images
ELMONT, N.Y. — The New York Rangers are holding star forward Artemi Panarin out of the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the rival New York Islanders for roster management purposes, according to a league source. The 34-year-old is not expected to appear in any more games prior to next Wednesday’s Olympic roster freeze.
The Rangers informed the pending free agent earlier this month that they do not intend to offer a contract extension and have been working with him to find a trade destination. Panarin has final say on if and where he goes due to a full no-movement clause.
“It’s hard to say how I feel,” Panarin said on Jan. 17, a day after team president and general manager Chris Drury issued his “retool” letter and had a private conversation with Panarin to begin the trade dialogue. “I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that. I’m a Ranger player right now, so I’ll play every game 100 percent.”
It’s unclear if a trade is being finalized or if the team is simply holding him out to prevent injury and protect a prime asset in the lead-up to the March 6 trade deadline. It’s also possible the Rangers have worked out the parameters of a deal and are now allowing Panarin time to negotiate a contract extension, which colleague Chris Johnston reported the player’s camp is seeking in order to sign off on any trade. Panarin has been granted permission to discuss an extension with interested teams in advance of any trade, as The Athletic reported earlier Wednesday.
Panarin has declined to comment on which teams he’d be willing to waive his NMC for, leaving the situation ripe for speculation. Multiple league sources believe his preference would be to sign with a team on the East Coast, but a few Western Conference contenders are also believed to be in the mix if Panarin goes the rental route.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan hasn’t been holding back with his recent usage of Panarin, who’s logged 20 minutes or more in each of his last five games — including 24:15 in Monday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins. That very well could end up being his final game with the team.
He currently leads the Rangers with 57 points (19 goals and 38 assists) through 52 games. Panarin’s been their leading scorer for all seven seasons in New York, although that streak will end with a trade surely coming. He’s accumulated a total of 607 points (205 goals and 402 assists) through 482 games, which ranks eighth in franchise history.
