Elliotte Friedman: Former Blackhawk Artemi Panarin expected to leave the New York Rangers
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Per a new report from NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, there's a good chance that Russian star Artemi Panarin could end up leaving the New York Rangers.
Things aren't going great for the New York Rangers right now, as they've won only 3 of the opening 8 games of their new season under head coach Mike Sullivan.
They have a chance to correct things and get back to the .500 mark when they bring in the winless San Jose Sharks to Madison Square Garden tonight, but there's a bigger story lurking in the shadows.
Forward Artemi Panarin is playing in his final year of his contract, which he signed in 2019, and right now there's not much indication pointing toward an extension that would keep him in New York beyond 2026.
Per a new report from NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, there is a chance that Panarin could be moved to the Minnesota Wild, who recently just signed the biggest extension in NHL history.
"Elliotte Friedman: Re Artemi Panarin: I've actually wondered if Minnesota could be a team here; they've promised Kaprizov they will go out to get better; part of me wonders if there's a short team deal that makes sense - Morning Cuppa Hockey (10/21)"
Could Artemi Panarin and Kirill Kaprizov team up with the Minnesota Wild?
Panarin began his career with the Chicago Blackhawks after being signed out of the KHL as an undrafted free agent, and he won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in 2016.
But they traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that many fans consider among the worst trades in team history.
On the other hand, the Wild recently signed fellow Russian Kirill Kaprizov to the biggest extension in NHL history with an AAV (average annual value) of $17 million.
He had reportedly rejected a contract just months earlier that had an AAV of $16 million.
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