After following up a record-breaking 2023–24 season that ended in heartbreak with a loss to the eventual back-to-back champion Florida Panthers, the Rangers may have had the most disappointing season in franchise history. They missed the playoffs, and nearly every player on the roster took a significant step back from the year prior.
One player who regressed, at least by his own high standards, was Rangers superstar forward Artemi Panarin. In 2023–24, Panarin had a career-best season, scoring 49 goals and adding 71 assists for 120 points. He followed that up with 37 goals and 52 assists for 89 points this past season a step down, but still far from a bad year on the scoresheet.
Now, at 34 years old and heading into the final year of his contract, the question becomes: what should the Rangers, currently stuck in limbo, do with him?
Artemi Panarin has been the best free agent signing in New York Rangers history—possibly in the history of the franchise. Back in the summer of 2019, he signed a seven-year deal worth $11.7 million annually, making him the highest-paid player in team history at the time. With that contract came sky-high expectations, especially for a team just emerging from a rebuilding phase. To say he has exceeded those expectations would be a massive understatement. Over six seasons, Panarin has played in 430 games, demonstrating remarkable durability, and has recorded 186 goals and 264 assists for 550 points. He has consistently been one of the top players in the NHL and one of the league’s most prolific point producers during the regular season.
Not everything has been perfect during Panarin’s tenure as a New York Ranger, especially in the playoffs. While he has had a few memorable moments, such as his Game 7 overtime winner against the Penguins in 2022 and a Game 3 OT winner against the Hurricanes in 2024, his overall postseason performance has been underwhelming. In 46 playoff games, he has totaled 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points, but only 16 of those points have come at even strength. He also holds a minus-12 rating and has often looked like a liability at five-on-five. As the playoffs go deeper, Panarin tends to disappear. His east-west style of play becomes ineffective when time and space are limited, and his lack of physicality makes it easy for opponents to neutralize him for long stretches. Once the ice tightens, his impact fades and his defensive deficiencies become more apparent, making him more of a burden than a difference-maker.
So the question is, what should the Rangers do with Artemi Panarin as he approaches free agency following the 2025–26 season?
Panarin will be 34 years old this season, and with the Rangers entering a retooling period, it makes more sense to trade him at this year’s deadline and maximize his value. He could bring back a king’s ransom in return first-round picks, promising young talent, and potentially NHL-ready players who can help shape the next era of Rangers hockey.
The Panarin era in New York featured a legitimate window to win, but despite multiple deep playoff runs, that window ultimately closed without a Stanley Cup. Panarin has been one of the greatest Rangers of all time, and there’s a strong case that his number will one day hang in the Madison Square Garden rafters.
But now is the time to look ahead. The Rangers cannot afford to commit long-term money to a player in his mid-30s when the team is no longer positioned to contend for a championship. Holding on to Panarin into free agency would be a mistake if the plan is not to re-sign him.
The team must be proactive, not sentimental, and focus on building a younger, deeper roster that can contend in the years ahead. Moving Panarin would be a bold move, but one that could set the franchise up for long-term success.