The New York Rangers are going to be an interesting team to watch all season as the team is expected to return to playoff contention after undergoing an anticlimactic 24-25 year that saw the squad miss out on the playoffs after going into the campaign with Stanley Cup contender expectations.
The Rangers have not got off to a great start thus far, going scoreless to this point through 2 games. It is early days here, but if this trend continues and New York is unable to flip the script and turn their season around, drastic changes may be necessary in the Big Apple.
No player appears safe in Manhattan with how sky high the pressures are with a new look team and staff. One player who could be on the move depending on how the year transpires is their star forward Artemi Panarin.
What is the latest on Panarin?
Via writer/insider Matt Larkin, he envisions a world where the Rangers move on from Artemi Panarin around the trade deadline if the results do not improve in a big way. Panarin is playing in the final season of his contract that will expire in 2026.
The thought process from Larkin is the Rangers would be unwilling to commit to giving Panarin another massive payday with the lack of a change in team results over the past few seasons. While it would be a heavy loss in the short term, the sacrifice would allow the Rangers room to load up in what forecasts to be a juicy 2026 open market next summer.
This is all a moot point if the Rangers can find a way and turn this season around. They have plenty of time to do so, the fate of their future is in their court.
