Artemi Panarin's future with the New York Rangers being called into question

"With a string of high-profile contract extensions over the past few weeks, there is now a clear-cut choice for the top free agent of 2026: Artemi Panarin, who has yet to extend his deal with the New York Rangers and is poised to become a UFA on July 1. Now, it's up to the Blueshirts to give him a reason to remain in New York instead of fetching his last big payday elsewhere next summer."

"With the lackluster performance thus far, the rumor mill is already churning regarding the future of Panarin. NHL insider Frank Seravalli acknowledged that if the Rangers fail to make the playoffs, that could be the benchmark for whether Panarin decides to stay in New York or not -- and whether the Rangers want to hang onto him."

"Panarin is one of the last pieces remaining of the Rangers core that was once made up by the likes of Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Lindgren, who have all since departed. That group won the President's Trophy together as the regular season champions back in 2023-24 before being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final. Since then, though, the roster has been dismantled by GM Chris Drury piece by piece with just 11 remaining members of that team in today's lineup."

Artemi Panarin remains unsigned and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2026, positioning him as the top free agent of that class. The Rangers have started the season slowly, including a three-game winless stretch at Madison Square Garden, undermining confidence in the team's competitiveness. If the Rangers fail to reach the playoffs or are not competitive this season, the organization may allow Panarin to leave rather than re-sign him. Panarin, 33, has led the Rangers in scoring each season since joining in 2019-20 and ranks among the NHL's top scorers over that period. The Rangers' roster has been significantly reworked by GM Chris Drury, leaving just 11 remaining members from the 2023-24 core that won the President's Trophy. Losing Panarin would remove the team's primary offensive weapon and mark a major shift from the previous core era.

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