Friedman: Rangers expected to want a Brock Nelson-level trade return for Artemi Panarin

""[Panarin] is obviously the name that everybody is kinda focused on right now," Friedman said. "If you'll remember last year, Brock Nelson was traded from the Islanders to Colorado, and the trade was for Cal Ritchie, a first-rounder, and a conditional third. There were other players involved, but those were the key pieces, and it sounds like that's where the Rangers' starting point is with Panarin right now.""

"The full trade saw Nelson and minor-league winger William Dufour sent to Colorado for Cal Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington, a top-10 protected 2026 first-round pick, and a 2028 conditional third-round pick. For the Islanders to receive the third-round pick, the Avalanche would have had to win the 2025 Stanley Cup, which they did not. Ritchie was Colorado's first-round pick, 27th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. A similar return from a Capitals perspective would likely see a prospect like Terik Parascak or Lynden Lakovic sent to the Rangers, and the Capitals do own their first-round picks for the next four drafts, as well as their third-round picks in 2028 and 2029."

The Washington Capitals emerged as a front-runner in trade talks for Artemi Panarin, with the Rangers seeking a return similar to the Brock Nelson trade. The Nelson deal sent Brock Nelson and minor-league winger William Dufour to Colorado for Cal Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington, a top-10 protected 2026 first-round pick, and a 2028 conditional third-round pick. The third-round pick required an Avalanche 2025 Stanley Cup win to transfer, which did not occur. Cal Ritchie was Colorado's 27th overall pick in 2023. A comparable return from Washington would likely include a prospect such as Terik Parascak or Lynden Lakovic, and Washington controls first-round picks in the next four drafts plus third-round picks in 2028 and 2029. The asking price could change if a team acquires Panarin alongside a contract extension.

Read at RMNB