GM Chris Drury Refuses To Openly Discuss Artemi Panarin's Contract Extension With The New York Rangers
Photo credit: SportsRantNY
The 2026 free agent class is set to be one of the best in the NHL, with Connor McDavid possibly testing free agency. Another player who could join him, as Chris Drury of the New York Rangers refuses to discuss an extension with the media, is Artemi Panarin, who makes $11.6 million AAV (average annual value).
The New York Rangers will have to take heed of the public's interest in Artemi Panarin's future as a Blueshirt.
With an $11.6 million cap hit, and as a pending UFA (unrestricted free agent) in July, the team will have to decide whether to let him walk, trade him, to re-sign him.
His production slid in 2024-25, as we saw throughout the lineup happen with multiple Rangers players. Panarin was no different, coming off a 120-point season, he slid to 37-52-89.
For a regular NHL player, that's a nice level of production, but for the Rangers, they expect more bang for their bucks.
As someone with an NMC (no-movement clause) and a hefty cap hit, a trade might be more difficult to pull off, considering he'd have to sign off on the trade to make it happen.
General Manager Chris Drury was asked about any updates on negotiations with Artemi Panarin and his camp:
Artemi Panarin's Future in New York
Back in March, it was speculated that Artemi Panarin could land in six spots during the offseason. None of that would come to fruition, surprisingly.
Drury would instead trade K'Andre Miller and Chris Kreider, as Panarin remained one of the last players from the core of the 2019-20 team.
We'd think if Drury was deadset on trading him, he would've done so already. But while he keeps his poker face on in public, we have to speculate that the two camps are engaging in discussions, so he can get to a trade ahead of time, instead of letting an $82 million player walk in July.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
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