With the New York Rangers sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and the Olympic break fast approaching, the team is making it clear they’re shifting into seller mode. The biggest signal?
Artemi Panarin - their top offensive weapon and one of the league’s most dynamic forwards - is being held out of the lineup until after the break. That’s not just a rest day.
That’s a calculated move to keep him healthy ahead of what’s shaping up to be a major trade.
Panarin, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, turns 35 before next year. The Rangers, facing a full-on roster retool, aren’t looking to re-sign a veteran forward on the back end of his prime. Instead, they’re eyeing what kind of haul they can get for a player who still has game-breaking ability and serious playoff pedigree.
So, with a trade looking more like a "when" than an "if," let’s break down three potential landing spots that make the most sense - teams that not only need a player like Panarin, but also have the assets and urgency to make a deal happen.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Front-Runners
If you’re looking for a team that checks every box - cap space, need, and trade capital - Carolina might be it.
Sure, they’re in the same division as the Rangers, and that can make things a little tricky. But these teams have done business before, including a notable deal this past offseason involving defenseman K’Andre Miller. So the door is open.
The Hurricanes have more than $7 million in cap space to work with, which means they can absorb Panarin’s contract without jumping through hoops. They also hold four first-round picks over the next three drafts, giving them plenty of ammunition to offer a competitive return.
This is a team that’s been aggressive at the deadline before - they went out and got Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen in recent years (though Rantanen was flipped to Dallas for Logan Stankoven and two first-rounders). So they’re not afraid to swing big.
And they should. Carolina has been one of the most consistent teams in the East, but they’ve hit a wall in the playoffs - often because they just can’t find enough offense when the games tighten up. Panarin would bring instant creativity and finishing to a top-six that needs a little more firepower to get over the hump.
The one complication? Contract talks.
The Hurricanes don’t want a repeat of the Guentzel situation, where they gave up assets for a rental who walked in free agency. If they can’t get Panarin to consider an extension, it might give them pause.
But given their win-now window, this is a gamble worth taking.
Detroit Red Wings: Ready to Make Their Move
After nearly a decade on the outside looking in, the Red Wings are finally in a position to return to the playoffs - and they’ve got a young, talented core to build around.
Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Larkin have carried the offense, while Moritz Seider is blossoming into a Norris-level defenseman. The foundation is there.
But if Detroit wants to do more than just make an appearance in the postseason, they need help. Specifically, they need scoring depth.
Right now, the top of the lineup is doing the heavy lifting, but there’s not enough support down the lineup. That’s where Panarin comes in.
He’s not just a scorer - he’s a playmaker who can elevate the players around him. Slotting him into Detroit’s top six would give them a second wave of offense that could change the dynamic of their entire attack.
The Red Wings have the cap space, a full set of draft picks, and a decent prospect pool. There’s no reason for them not to be aggressive if they believe this is the year to make a leap. Adding Panarin would send a clear message: the rebuild is over, and they’re here to contend.
Los Angeles Kings: The Wild Card
The Kings are in a different position. They’re not a lock for the playoffs - far from it - but they’ve got every reason to go for it right now.
Anze Kopitar, the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, is set to retire after this season. That alone adds urgency. And after four straight first-round exits, L.A. is desperate to change the narrative.
Offense has been a problem for this team. They knew it going into the offseason, and they haven’t done enough to fix it. If they can climb into a top-three spot in the Pacific Division, the path through the Western Conference becomes a lot more manageable.
Panarin would give them exactly what they’re missing - a proven scorer who can tilt the ice and take over a game. He’d also bring playoff experience and leadership to a group that’s struggled to turn regular-season success into postseason results.
The question is whether the Kings are willing to pay the price for a player like Panarin when their playoff future is still uncertain. But if they believe they can get hot at the right time, this is a move that could push them over the edge.
The Bottom Line
Artemi Panarin is one of the most skilled offensive players in the NHL, and even at 34, he’s capable of swinging a playoff series. The Rangers know that - and they’re positioning themselves to cash in while they still can.
Whether it’s Carolina, Detroit, L.A., or another contender that steps up, Panarin’s name is going to dominate the trade deadline conversation. And if he lands in the right spot, he could be the kind of difference-maker that shifts the balance of power in this year’s Stanley Cup race.