Rangers Bench Artemi Panarin Indefinitely Before Olympic Break
Artemi Panarin, the star forward for the New York Rangers, will be sidelined before the Olympic break. He will miss Wednesday’s game against the New York Islanders as part of roster management decisions. The 34-year-old is not expected to return before the Olympic roster freeze next Wednesday.
Trade Discussions and Future Prospects
Recently, the Rangers informed Panarin that they do not intend to pursue a contract extension. Consequently, they are exploring potential trade options. Due to his full no-movement clause, Panarin has considerable control over his trade destination.
On January 17, he expressed uncertainty about his situation following a conversation with Rangers’ president and GM Chris Drury. Panarin stated, “I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that. I’m a Ranger player right now, so I’ll play every game 100 percent.”
It remains unclear if a trade is imminent or if the Rangers are simply mitigating the risk of an injury for a valuable asset ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
Contract Negotiation Permission
Reports suggest that the Rangers have allowed Panarin to negotiate a contract extension with interested teams prior to any trade. His camp is seeking a deal in exchange for waiving his no-movement clause. However, Panarin has not disclosed which teams he would consider, leading to much speculation about potential destinations.
Performance Highlights
Despite the ongoing trade discussions, Panarin has delivered consistent performances. He has logged over 20 minutes in each of his last five games, including a remarkable 24:15 minutes in a recent overtime victory against the Boston Bruins.
- Current season performance:
- 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) through 52 games
- Franchise contribution:
- 607 points (205 goals, 402 assists) in 482 games
- Ranked eighth in franchise history
Panarin has been the leading scorer for the Rangers throughout all seven seasons in New York, a streak that is likely coming to an end. The team faces a pivotal moment as they navigate his potential exit amidst a season filled with significant changes.
