It's been reported that the Rangers' management might decide to part ways with Panarin and his $11.6M a year salary.
The Rangers are in a position to make a deep playoff run, and in the last few seasons, they've always come up short.
If things don't go well during the season, don't be surprised if they decide to make a few changes in the lineup.
Letting go of Panarin would give a lot of flexibility to Chris Drury, the GM, to acquire players. Currently, the Rangers are 50k over the salary cap.
A simpler and more realistic trade is likely to occur, but it's still a scenario worth considering.
Panarin has played a significant role in the Rangers' success over the last few years.
He's the only player, alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, to have scored 90 points or more in at least three of the last four seasons.
Panarin has been the most productive forward in New York since he joined the team in 2019. He tallied 341 points in 268 games and led the team in nearly every offensive category.
However, at 31 years old, one has to wonder if he'll begin to decline soon. If that happens, the Rangers might be relieved they traded him.
Do you think the Rangers will trade Panarin?
As seen on Empire Sports Media - The Rangers could look to offload $11.6M forward
POLL | ||
Do you think the Rangers will trade Panarin? | ||
Yes | 369 | 41.7 % |
No | 515 | 58.3 % |
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