What’s Next for the Rangers After Moving Panarin? It’s All About Asset Management Now
Artemi Panarin’s time on Broadway has officially come to a close, and while the trade return didn’t include a coveted first-round pick, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Rangers. The move signals a shift in strategy - one focused on asset accumulation and long-term flexibility - and there’s still plenty of time before the deadline for general manager Chris Drury to make some noise.
Let’s break down what’s happened, what it means, and where the Rangers go from here.
The Panarin Trade: Not Ideal, But Not a Total Loss
No question, the return for Panarin left fans wanting more. Anytime a star player gets moved and there’s no first-rounder involved, eyebrows go up. But context matters.
Panarin’s no-movement clause severely limited Drury’s options. The Rangers weren’t dealing from a position of strength, and in that light, landing Liam Greentree - the Kings’ top prospect - isn’t a bad outcome.
Greentree’s got the tools to become a top-six forward down the line. He’s got size, skill, and a scoring touch that could translate well if the development path goes right.
That’s a big “if,” of course, but it’s a legitimate swing at a future impact player.
Still, if the Rangers are serious about retooling, they’ll need more than just one promising winger. This next stretch leading up to the deadline is where things get interesting.
Vincent Trocheck: The Big Chip Still on the Board
If Panarin was a complicated move, Vincent Trocheck’s situation is a whole lot more straightforward - and potentially more lucrative.
Trocheck is producing at nearly a point-per-game pace, and with a cap hit of $5.63 million for the next three and a half years, his contract is more than manageable for a contending team. He’s not a rental, he’s a plug-and-play top-six center with postseason experience and term. That’s gold on the trade market.
Unlike Panarin, Trocheck only has a 12-team no-trade list, which gives Drury significantly more flexibility. And the market is already heating up. If Brock Nelson was able to fetch a first-round pick, a top prospect, and a third-rounder as a rental last year, Trocheck should command at least that - and possibly more.
Teams like the Minnesota Wild could be in the mix, though their draft capital is a bit limited in the short term. If Minnesota is the partner, the Rangers should be eyeing their 2027 first-rounder, young NHL forward Danila Yurov, and prospect Charlie Stramel as a potential package.
But if a team like the Carolina Hurricanes - who are deeper in assets - gets serious, the ask should be even higher. Think two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and a top-tier prospect. That’s the kind of return that could reshape the Rangers’ future.
Braden Schneider: A Valuable Piece with Long-Term Appeal
While Trocheck is the headline act, Braden Schneider is a name that shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s not going to bring back the same kind of haul, but there’s real value here.
Schneider is just 24, already logging NHL minutes, and still under team control as a restricted free agent for multiple years. That’s a rare combination - young, cheap, and experienced - and it makes him an attractive option for playoff-bound teams looking to shore up their blue line.
He’s likely a third-pairing guy on a contender, but one with upside. That’s more than enough to warrant a first-round pick or a top prospect in return, especially given the scarcity of quality defensemen available at the deadline.
Could the Rangers pry away someone like Igor Chernyshov from San Jose? That might be a stretch, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. At the very least, Drury should be holding out for a package centered around a first-rounder.
Depth Pieces Could Still Yield Mid-Round Picks
Beyond the headline names, the Rangers have a few more cards to play.
Taylor Raddysh and Sam Carrick are the types of depth forwards that playoff teams love to add for a deep run. Don’t expect a major return, but second- or third-round picks are very much in play.
Same goes for pending UFAs like Jonny Brodzinski and veteran goalie Jonathan Quick. These are the moves that don’t make headlines but quietly build the draft capital needed for bigger swings later.
Draft Picks vs. Prospects: A Strategic Balance
Here’s the key takeaway: the Rangers don’t need to load up exclusively on prospects. Draft picks - especially first- and second-rounders - are assets in their own right. They give Drury flexibility, whether it’s to select young talent or flip those picks in future trades.
With Greentree already in the fold and likely another top prospect coming back in a Trocheck deal, the Rangers can afford to be selective. If the right prospect isn’t available, pivot to picks.
Stockpile them. Use them.
Move them. That’s how you build a sustainable contender.
Final Thoughts
The Panarin trade may not have been the blockbuster haul fans hoped for, but it was the first domino. Now, the real work begins. Trocheck is the big-ticket item, Schneider is a sneaky valuable piece, and there are several depth players who can bring back solid returns.
If Drury plays this right, the Rangers could come out of the deadline with a war chest of picks and prospects - the kind of flexibility that allows a team to rebuild on the fly or reload in a hurry.
The deadline is looming. The Rangers are open for business. Let’s see what they do next.