New York Rangers left winger Artemi Panarin is on the way out. The team is expected to sideline Panarin until the March 5 trade deadline. The Rangers will now take the next month to work out a trade with another team.
Though a move isn’t imminent, the expectation is that Panarin gets traded before the deadline. Here are three potential landing spots for Panarin.
Artemi Panarin’s time in NY is coming to an end
The Rangers’ top offensive player has likely played his last game for the Blueshirts.
Earlier this month, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury announced that the franchise will be making moves to “retool” the roster. At 22-26-6 (50 points), the Rangers are in last place in the Eastern Conference and heading in the wrong direction.
While Drury won’t call it a rebuild, the reshuffling of players is a sign to fans that this team is punting on the season to build for the future.
Shortly after Drury posted that letter to the fanbase, he met with Panarin and informed his star player that the organization would not be re-signing him.
Panarin is in the final year of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract—$11.64 AAV— he signed before the 2019 season.
While Panarin could not guide the Rangers to the Stanley Cup, he has led the team in scoring every year since 2019. Panarin has 19 goals and 38 assists in 52 games.
If a deal is not reached before Feb. 4, the Rangers cannot trade Panarin until after the Olympic break, which ends on February 22. Panarin also has a full no-movement clause, meaning he can control his own destiny and choose his next team.
Panarin landing spot #1: San Jose Sharks
Sharks Have Inquired About Panarin, Star Winger Would Sign Extension With San Jose https://t.co/9cEGP6TL5W
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 29, 2026
One of the surprise teams of the NHL season is the San Jose Sharks.
As of Jan. 29, the Sharks are 27-21-3 (57 points). If the season ended today, the Sharks would secure the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Sharks have not qualified for the postseason since the 2018-2019 season.
The Sharks are on the rise, led by their talented star, Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old phenom.
Last week, the Sharks acquired winger Kiefer Sherwood to prepare for a playoff push.
Per Sheng Peng, the Sharks have inquired about Panarin. Plus, the “Breadman” is willing to sign a contract extension to remain in San Jose.
Panarin, 34, could be the right veteran to pair with Celebrini and set the Sharks up for a promising future.
Panarin landing spot #2: Carolina Hurricanes
Would the Rangers be willing to help out a rival?
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes sit atop the Metropolitan Division with a record of 32-15-5 (69 points).
The Hurricanes are in win-now mode, so they should be in the market for a player like Panarin to take them over the top.
The Hurricanes have cap space and a treasure trove of first-round draft picks. The only difficulty might be getting Panarin to sign an extension.
If Panarin gets dealt to Carolina, the Hurricanes become the favorite to reach the Stanley Cup.
Panarin landing spot #3: Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are slowly becoming the Anaheim Rangers.
The Rangers have traded several key players from their recent core to the Ducks, including defenseman Jacob Trouba and winger Chris Kreider.
The Ducks are in third place in the Pacific Division with a record of 28-22-3 (59 points).
Anaheim has a young team with a bright future. Plus, the Ducks have plenty of cap space to sign Panarin to an extension.