The New York Rangers are sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings, and with the trade deadline approaching, the writing on the wall is clear: this team is pivoting toward a retool. That means shifting from playoff aspirations to asset management - and yes, being sellers. But not everyone is on the move, and the Rangers' front office is being deliberate about how they navigate this next chapter.
General manager Chris Drury has already taken proactive steps, meeting with players who hold full no-move clauses to lay out the team’s intentions. According to reporting from Pierre LeBrun, those players include J.T.
Miller, Vladislav Gavrikov, Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Mika Zibanejad. None of them, at least for now, have shown any inclination to waive their no-move clauses.
That’s a key detail - because it tells us who’s likely staying put as the Rangers reshape the roster.
Then there’s Artemi Panarin. While he also holds a full no-move, his situation is different.
He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Rangers have made it clear they won’t be re-signing him. Instead, they’re working with him to find a trade partner before the March 6 deadline.
That’s a major development - Panarin is still a high-end offensive talent, and his availability could generate serious interest from contenders looking to add scoring punch for a playoff run.
But let’s talk about J.T. Miller, because his name has been swirling in trade speculation - despite the fact that he’s not going anywhere.
Not only does Miller have a no-move clause, but he’s also made it clear he intends to stick around. According to sources, the Rangers’ captain has no interest in waiving his clause, and Drury isn’t planning to ask him to.
That’s significant. Miller was acquired just last year and immediately handed the captaincy - a clear sign the organization sees him as a foundational piece, even as the team transitions into a new phase.
There’s a reason Miller’s name has popped up in trade rumors. He’s a versatile forward with leadership chops and a two-way game that would make him a valuable addition to any contender.
But the Rangers didn’t bring him in just to flip him a year later. They see him as part of the solution, not part of the problem.
And Miller, for his part, is embracing that role. He’s committed to seeing this retool through, anchoring a locker room that’s about to see some change.
So while the Rangers prepare to make moves ahead of the deadline - and there will likely be a few - don’t expect a full teardown. This isn’t a fire sale.
It’s a targeted recalibration. Players like Panarin may be on the move, but others, like Miller, are staying put to help guide the franchise through this next phase.
It’s a balancing act between the present and the future, and so far, the Rangers seem to be approaching it with clarity and purpose.