The Artemi Panarin era in New York is officially over, and the question now is who will end up replacing him in the Rangers' lineup?
Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional 2026 third-round pick and prospect Liam Greentree, ending weeks of speculation about where he might get dealt. Considering he had a full no-movement clause and sought a contract extension upon completion of a deal, the Rangers' options weren't exactly robust.
As Panarin agrees to a two-year, $22 million contract extension with the Kings, the Rangers are on the other coast trying to sort out what this all means for the team's future.
Greentree is the answer to who the team might see as a franchise centerpiece, but that time doesn't appear to be right now. The more immediate need is determining who will take Panarin's place in the lineup as the Rangers move forward without their star forward.
Rangers' realistic Artemi Panarin replacements in lineup
The Rangers have given a bit of a preview of what the lineup would look like without Panarin when they sat him to preserve a trade before the Olympic break. When it comes to who would replace Panarin as a top six left wing on even strength, it would be Alexis Lafreniere.
Lafreniere has simply not panned out the way anyone expected him to. He had a breakout 2023-24 season, where he recorded 28 goals and 29 assists for 57. That season turned out to be an anomaly, since he never got close to replicating those kind of numbers. Through 56 games this season, he has 12 goals and 20 assists to his credit.
It hasn't been an ideal season for Lafreniere, as he was put in head coach Mike Sullivan's doghouse at one point after the Winter Classic. But now is his chance to really step up when the team needs him most.
As for the top powerplay unit, Panarin's spot would be filled by Gabe Perreault. The 2023 first-round pick has been praised for his puck skills, passing ability, and scoring. The hope was that he would get a chance with the Rangers this year, especially after a strong preseason. That, and he can get some significant reps in the pros to grow his game.
This season, Perreault has three goals and five assists through 23 games. He hasn't put up the points, but he is showing promise on the ice during games. Down the road, once he puts everything together, maybe he can turn into a rock-solid top-six forward.
So those would be the two players that would effectively replace Panarin in the lineup for the remainder of the season. That can obviously change, whether it's through Sullivan's decision-making or if Drury ships out more players ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Maybe that could open the door for other younger forwards like Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard to move up the lineup.
But as of now, expect Lafreniere and Perreault to get the bulk of the opportunities.