Roughly 24 hours after the Artemi Panarin fiasco, the fallout has led to questions about what’s next for the Rangers.
As my colleague Tom Urtz Jr. reported, the Blueshirts have swiftly followed up with some questionable roster decisions. These decisions have left fans scratching their heads amid the apparent lack of direction.
But beyond internal shuffling, thoughts have emerged about what could be the next shoe to drop on Broadway. So much chatter has gone into the Rangers’ veteran pieces like Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, and even Adam Fox.
In fact, David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period suggested that Fox was the subject of talk this past weekend. However, per Pagnotta’s sources, Fox isn’t going anywhere for the time being.
That’s why the Rangers find themselves like a ship adrift at sea. The retool doesn’t really look like a retool. It looks more like a full-blown fire sale.
So, what’s the difference?
Take the Boston Bruins, for example. Last season, the Bruins sold off their veteran pieces, UFAs, and players they didn’t want to commit to, and landed players that could provide support in the short-term.
The Bruins got Fraser Minten from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marat Khusnutdinov from the Minnesota Wild. Both have become mainstays in their lineup this season. The Bruins also landed draft picks, with their tank last season leading to James Hagens at seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Then, the Bruins signed several players in free agency to round out the club’s depth. They kept their core, David Pastrnak, Charlie Coyle, and Jeremy Swayman, while trying to build around them as much as they could.
Are the Bruins perfect? Hardly. But they’re in a playoff spot one season removed from a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
That’s the path the Rangers could have opted for. Panarin could have been a gold mine. Unless Liam Greentree turns into the next Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon, the Rangers will end up with a black eye that might never really go away.
The only real way to recoup from the Panarin mess is to maximize the returns on upcoming trades. The Rangers might be able to land something tangible for Trocheck as he lacks a full no-movement clause.
But as far as Zibanejad and others, the likelihood of the Panarin situation repeating is highly likely. Perhaps trying to extract as many draft picks as possible might be the best way the Rangers can profit from their upcoming moves.
In the meantime, the Rangers might only have enough runway to make minor moves leading up to the trade deadline. The offseason may see the Rangers truly hold a fire sale, moving every player they can for whatever they can get.
It won’t be a retool, but a full-on rebuild.