Artemi Panarin reveals he felt unwanted by the Rangers during final contract talks

Artemi Panarin could still be a member of the New York Rangers, and he today he reveals that he felt unwanted by the team he decided to join as a free agent back in 2019. Panarin and the Rangers had some talks before the start of the season, and those talks planted the seeds of doubt which ultimately led to his divorce from the Rangers.

Panarin talks about negotiation process with Rangers

When talking over Zoom with assorted members of the media, Panarin said, "I don’t know if I should say this, but I feel like their offer said, ‘We’re not sure if we want you or not.’ That’s why I’m not signed." He said they re-engaged a little bit during the season, "but not much."

The Rangers' cold approach toward Panarin remained consistent throughout, and with the season going as poorly as it did, what happened next was seemingly a fait accompli. It is perfectly fine if the Rangers saw how the 2024-25 season went and wanted a change. In fairness to them, Panarin had 89 points a year after tallying 120 points, and that was quite a drop in production. Panarin did get off to a slow start this season, and he's one again on pace for just around a point per game.

It is very possible that he won't be productive enough to the point that signing him to any deal made sense. But if that was the case, the Rangers should have been more decisive instead of essentially pushing their star player out the door and creating an environment which made him feel unwanted and confused instead of trying to work something out that was in everyone's best interest. The Rangers played this as poorly as they possibly could, and it led to an underwhelming return.

Security was important to Panarin

The former Ranger also talked about the process of finding a new team, and why an extension was important to him before agreeing to a trade.

"I don’t like to switch teams back and forth. I played already with three teams in the NHL. I have two kids, a dog, a wife… It’s just too much stuff. And also, I feel like I don’t want to be rented for a couple months, then go somewhere else. I’m just looking for a team who wants me."

It is clear that the Rangers wanted to go in a new direction, and it really once again calls into question why the team waited as long as they did to trade him. If this is how Chris Drury and company truly felt, why not make a move before the season? Odds are Panarin could have done then what he did now, and the Rangers could have garnered a much better return. This is the case because during the offseason Panarin would have had time to set his life up, and not feel so pressured to make a decision. It could have expanded the list of teams, and I imagine that if a team like Florida or Tampa Bay knew he was going to be available, both would have been able to make moves that could accommodate Panarin, and budget for a long term extension.

Los Angeles ultimately became the only team for Panarin

Panarin was asked about the deadline approaching before the Olympics, and whether or not he was worried about a deal getting done. His comments were very interesting, and Rangers fans will be less than thrilled after reading them.

Via Vince Mercogliano:

Did Panarin have any doubt in the final days the trade and extension would get done with LA? He said yes and hinted that he may have waited until after the Olympic break if they weren't able to get the deal done with the Kings.

"They waited pretty long, I feel like. I have experience being a free agent, so it was kind of similar… I was ready for that, but I was not ready to pick a team where I didn’t want to go. I probably would have gone back to Russia if LA didn’t give me anything."

Not sure if he was joking or serious about that last part...

Given all the factors at play, with it becoming a situation where Panarin only wanted the Kings, it is clear that the Rangers should have re-engaged with Los Angeles after the trade freeze was lifted. This was the one bit of leverage that Drury should have utilized. Panarin entered the process with a thought in mind, and the market didn't materialize like he thought.

Part of that is because of the realities of trying to get something done at this point of the year. He didn't want a short-term deal, but that's what was out there, and he took it because Los Angeles wanted him. I think given everything we know now, and what Panarin has admitted, this is something the Rangers could have drawn out a bit. That Drury felt obligated to take the deal he did right now just reinforces that he may not be the man to lead the Rangers post Letter 2.0.

Hopefully he's able to change the minds of fans with better trades before the deadline, but that remains to be seen.