Artemi Panarin continues to enjoy an incredibly successful career for the New York Rangers. Conversations about the Russian's future have been had since he ended the penultimate year of his contract with Blueshirts. When the Russian superstar's contract ends, the Rangers will have a decision to make. Do they re-sign the aging star when his contract enters the final year and risk signing him through his decline, or do they look at flipping the Russian winger?
This was a question pondered a while ago by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and they invested in a final playoff run with the Russian superstar. They swept the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning before Panarin departed the organization for New York. He left more money on the table to come to the Blueshirts, and now the Rangers must decide what the future holds. Do they look to trade their best forward or look to extend him?
Larry Brooks of the New York Post suggests that the Rangers must begin conversations with the camp and representation of Korkino, a Russian native. Panarin has collected 183 goals and 360 assists for 534 points in 423 games with the Blueshirts, scoring well over a point-per-game pace. With production like that, the case for keeping Panarin is extreme. He's been the Rangers top-producing player almost every season since he signed in the Big Apple.
However, Panarin will be 35 by the time year one of his new contract begins. If he plays every year, signing him to an eight-year deal would take him until he's 43. The Rangers have been quite lucky with Panarin's durability, but that breaks down as players get older and have more wear and tear on their bodies. The Rangers may not get that out of Panarin, which would hamper the production totals.
There is a slightly less severe concern for the cap as the NHL watches its cap situation respond to Covid by escalating and escalating quickly. The cap is expected to be north of $100 million by the time Panarin's new deal would begin, but that doesn't mean signing him would be worth it. Especially long-term if he isn't available for the Rangers most of the time the Rangers play.