Could Artemi Panarin Be a Rental Fit for the Oilers' Cup Push? Here's What We Know
With the NHL trade deadline inching closer, the market is starting to heat up-and one name that could turn the playoff picture on its head is Artemi Panarin. According to insider reports, the Rangers forward is open to a trade this season, but there’s a catch: while he wants a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup, he’s also looking for long-term security in the form of an extension.
That’s where things get interesting.
Over the weekend, rumblings began to surface that if a trade-and-extension scenario doesn’t materialize, Panarin would be open to a pure rental situation-just for the rest of this season. And if that’s the case, a few top-tier contenders are reportedly on his radar: Colorado, Dallas, and yes, Edmonton.
Let’s pause for a second. We’re talking about a player with 19 goals and 57 points already this season.
That kind of production doesn’t just become available midseason without serious cap gymnastics and roster maneuvering. But if Panarin is willing to be a rental?
That opens a door-albeit a narrow one-for teams like the Oilers.
Now, let’s be clear: there’s no confirmation that the Oilers and Rangers have had meaningful talks yet. But the framework for a potential deal is already being speculated on. Think of something along the lines of the Brock Nelson trade from the Islanders to the Avalanche-a package that included a first and third-round pick, a top prospect in Cal Ritchie, and a contract dump in Oliver Kylington to make the money work.
For Edmonton to even entertain this kind of move, the Rangers would likely need to retain 50% of Panarin’s hefty $11.6 million cap hit. That’s standard procedure in rental deals for big-ticket players. The Oilers, in turn, would probably have to send contracts back to New York just to balance the books.
This is where the Oilers’ front office faces a real test. They’ve got the star power in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
They’ve got momentum. What they don’t have is a Stanley Cup.
Adding a player like Panarin-even for a few months-could be the kind of all-in move that changes that narrative.
But it’s not just about fit on the cap sheet-it’s about fit on the ice. Panarin’s game is built on vision, creativity, and elite puck control.
He’d slot seamlessly into a top-six role, and on the power play? Forget about it.
Pairing him with either McDavid or Draisaitl would be a nightmare for opposing penalty kills.
Still, this all hinges on Panarin’s willingness to go rental-only. The word is that his preference is to find a contender that can also offer him an extension. That’s where teams like Colorado, Dallas, and Edmonton hit a wall-they’re contenders, sure, but they don’t have the cap flexibility to lock him in long-term.
So what we’re looking at is a potential short-term marriage of convenience: Panarin gets his shot at the Cup, the Oilers get a superstar winger for the stretch run, and the Rangers get a premium return for a player they might not be able to keep past this season anyway.
It’s a high-stakes game of roster roulette. But if the Oilers are serious about chasing a championship this year, these are the kinds of bold moves that can put them over the top.
Whether it materializes or not, one thing’s clear: the Panarin sweepstakes just got a lot more interesting-and Edmonton is officially in the conversation.