In the summer of 2019, the Florida Panthers made a major push to reshape their roster with two of the biggest names on the NHL free agent market: Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin. Both were coming off standout seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, both were vacationing together in Miami Beach, and both were being courted as a potential package deal. The Panthers had the cap space and the ambition - and they put their chips on the table.
Florida landed Bobrovsky, signing the two-time Vezina Trophy winner to a seven-year, $70 million deal - the largest contract in franchise history at the time. Panarin, however, opted for Broadway, inking a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers.
His reasoning? The allure of playing for one of the NHL’s most iconic franchises.
“He is happy and I am happy,” Bobrovsky said back in 2019. “I am excited to come and play for the Panthers.”
Fast forward to 2026, and Panarin’s name is back in the rumor mill - this time as a trade target. Could the Panthers circle back and land the one that got away?
Panarin on the Move?
Panarin is in the final year of his contract with the Rangers, and it’s clear the organization is heading in a new direction. After two disappointing seasons following their 2024 Eastern Conference Final loss to the Panthers, the Rangers have begun dismantling the roster. Earlier this month, the team informed Panarin that they wouldn’t be pursuing an extension.
“The team decided to go in a different direction,” Panarin said. “I’m OK with that.”
And with that, the Breadman is officially on the trade block. He was held out of the Rangers’ recent game against the Islanders and, according to reports, won’t suit up again until a deal is done.
At 34, Panarin remains a dynamic offensive weapon. He’s not the kind of player you bring in for two-way structure or shutdown shifts - that’s never been his calling card. But if you’re looking for elite playmaking and a scoring touch that can tilt the ice, he still brings that in spades.
Would He Fit in Florida?
That’s the big question. The Panthers are one of the league’s most structured, defensively sound teams under head coach Paul Maurice.
They play with grit, discipline, and a heavy forecheck - a system that demands buy-in from all 18 skaters. Panarin, while supremely talented, doesn’t exactly have a reputation for his backchecking.
But when a guy is producing the way Panarin is, you start to weigh the trade-offs. His 19 goals would have him tied with Sam Bennett for third on the team.
His 57 points? That’s seven more than team-leader Sam Reinhart.
That kind of production is hard to ignore - especially for a Panthers team that’s already built to contend and could use an offensive jolt heading into the stretch run.
The question isn't just whether Florida can swing a deal - it's whether they should. Chemistry matters, and the Panthers have built something special over the past few seasons.
But talent like Panarin’s doesn’t hit the market often. If the price is right, and the fit can be managed, this could be the kind of move that pushes Florida from contender to favorite.
It’s a full-circle moment in the making. Seven years after missing out on Panarin, the Panthers might just get a second shot. The stakes are higher now - and so is the potential payoff.