Insider Exposes One Significant Detail That's Stalling An Extension Between Artemi Panarin And The Rangers

According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, there is one major detail that stands in the way of the New York Rangers signing star forward Artemi Panarin to a contract extension ahead of the 2025-26 season.

As the 2025-26 season approaches, New York Rangers star forward Artemi Panarin appears to be entering the upcoming season without a contract extension, something that has generated a ton of questions and speculation about his future with the organization.

As stated in Arthur Baugh's latest column he revealed that Artemi Panarin is looking to secure a true a superstar contract, something that will most likely make his the highest paid Rangers player once again as Igor Shesterkin took that title with his 8-year $92M extension.

The 33-year-old forward is entering the final year of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract. And without a doubt, he will be looking to secure a hefty extension as he is still the Rangers most productive offensive players.

However, if the New York Rangers lose Panarin, the organization will simply not be the same as the teams offense would most likely collapse without him.

So this is truly something President and General Manager Chris Drury needs to think about, as giving top-tier money to a player who's well into his 30s is a risky move. Maybe a shorter-term deal could be offered but there's guarantee that Panarin would want to do that.

With Panarin's recent stats, it's clear that many organizations in the National Hockey League would pay what the star forward is asking, but the real question is, will the Rangers be willing to do the same?