ARTEMI PANARIN
According to Elliotte Freidman, the Rangers were rebuffed by Artemi Panarin’s agent Paul Theophanous this summer when they asked him if he would be willing to “take a (Anze) Kopitar kind of deal” (meaning less money, and short-term). Kopitar signed a 2-year/$14m extension in July 2023 coming off an 8-year/$80m contract.
By the time Panarin’s current 7-year/$81.5m agreement expires on June 30, 2026, he will have earned just over $100m in 11 NHL seasons. That means he doesn’t need to go after every last dollar, but he is certainly within his right to do so.
Throughout the Glenn Sather/Jeff Gorton/Chris Drury era, the Rangers have shown a willingness to acquire pending UFAs at a trade deadline, but they seldom let one of their own top players leave for nothing. They’ve traded the likes of Ryan Callahan, Rick Nash, and Mats Zucarello during their walk years. On the flip side, they’ve signed Dan Girardi, Igor Shesterkin and Mika Zibanejad.
If the two sides can’t come to an agreement prior to the March 6 trade deadline, do the Rangers deal Panarin? Or do they treat him as a rental and keep him for the stretch run? Panarin owns a full NMC (no movement clause) so he can dictate his future. Unless the Rangers underachieve for the second the season in-a-row, my assumption is that he will finish out his contract with the Rangers.
From the Rangers perspective, I would stay steadfast with their desire to do a short-term extension. Two years would have Panarin a free agent again on July 1, 2028, when he would be 37 years old. On the flip side, the Rangers should offer him a raise.
Panarin has led the Rangers in scoring each of his six seasons with the club. And while the Rangers are struggling to put pucks in the net through their first eight games, guess who is leading them in scoring with 7 points (2g, 5a)? And that’s after missing the entire preseason battling upper-and-lower body injuries.
The Rangers should offer him 2-years/$25m ($12.5m AAV). That’s the same extension that Connor McDavid recently signed. The hidden beauty of that deal is it would put the Rangers in position to sign McDavid in the unlikely scenario that he makes it to free agency. Added bonus? Brady Tkachuk’s current contract will also expire on that date.
My expectation is that Panarin would turn down that offer, and push for more term. If that’s the case, I say there’s no rush. Worst-case scenario is that Panarin leaves next summer, and he’s replaced by a combination of a veteran free agent (like Alex Tuch) and young prospect (like Gabe Perreault).
That’s how the Toronto Maple Leafs are handling Mitch Marner’s departure. And while they are off to a slow start (3-3-1) they are still fifth in the league in scoring (3.67 gf/g).
DE-FENSE
The New York Rangers are buying into Mike Sullivan’s system. They are playing with more patience and structure, greatly reducing the high-danger chances against. It is night and day compared to last season.
They’ve only given up 15 goals in their first eight games — and four of those coming after the goalie has been pulled.
- Igor Shesterkin leads the league with a 1.17 GAA and a .957 SV% (6 games).
- Jonathan Quick has a 2.03 GAA and a .911 SV% (2 games).
While his current numbers are realistically unsustainable over an entire season, Shesterkin proved in 2021-22 that he is capable of producing KHL-like stats in the NHL. As a reminder, he won the Vezina that season while finishing in third place in the Hart voting, by going 36-13-4 with a 2.07 GAA and .935 SV% in 53 games.
ADAM FOX
Adam Fox’s game and reputation both took hits last season. Whether it was the knee he re-injured in the 2024 playoffs against the Washington Capitals, or just the bad juju around him, Fox seemed a step behind all year.
It was most noticeable during the “4 Nations Face-Off”. Playing for Team USA under coach Mike Sullivan, he started the tournament as the primary point man on the power play. By the end, he was receiving the least ice time of all the defenders. In the gold-medal OT game against Team Canada, he played only 17:05.
Fox entered the offseason knowing that Sullivan would be both his Rangers head coach and a key decision maker in who makes Team USA’s 2026 Olympic Team.
Reportedly, Fox trained harder this summer in an effort to regain his status. “He’s capable of an elite game,” Sullivan said during camp. “And it’s our job as a coaching staff to help him get there.”
The early returns have been encouraging with Fox scoring 6 points (3g, 3a) in the first eight games. More importantly, he’s defending with increased intensity. He leads the team in blocked shots (14), has displayed more physicality. Plus, his stick has been very effective in his own zone.
FOURTH LINE
In a clear case of good news, bad news — next to Shesterkin and Fox, the most consistent Rangers through eight games have been Sam Carrick, Adam Edstrom, and Matt Rempe.
While Sullivan continues to tinker with his three top lines, he’s heaped praise and ice time on his fourth. They have combined for 1 goal, 5 assists, 30 shots, 12 blocks, 58 hits, and 7 penalty minutes.