The New York Rangers are officially in sell mode, and if Wednesday night’s loss to the Islanders felt like a low point, buckle up - it might only be the beginning.
The Blueshirts are entering a full-scale reset, and Artemi Panarin, their most dynamic offensive weapon, is expected to be the next big name out the door. That’s after defenseman Carson Soucy was already dealt to the Islanders for a third-round pick earlier this week - and yes, he suited up against his former team immediately. Twice, in fact, with back-to-back games between the rivals.
Panarin’s departure will mark more than just the end of an era - it’ll signal a hard pivot toward youth and long-term planning. And the roster already reflects that shift.
Due to injuries and the early stages of the teardown, five rookies are currently in the lineup: Noah Laba, Matthew Robertson, Gabe Perreault, Scott Morrow, and Brennan Othmann. Brett Berard was called up from Hartford ahead of Thursday’s game, and more call-ups are likely on the way.
Head coach Mike Sullivan addressed the youth movement directly Thursday morning: “We’ve got a lot of young guys that are getting opportunities in our lineup that have an opportunity to grow, develop, get better, show what they can do. And that, I think, is our challenge, and that’s the opportunity we have in front of us.”
It’s a glass-half-full approach to what could be a rough stretch for the Rangers. While the influx of young talent is exciting from a development standpoint, it’s going to come with growing pains - especially in a league as fast and unforgiving as the NHL. The Rangers are already less competitive than they were a month ago, and that trend may continue as more veterans are moved.
Eventually, the team will get reinforcements in the form of Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, both sidelined with lower-body injuries. But by the time they return, the roster around them could look dramatically different. One name to watch closely: Vincent Trocheck.
Trocheck has been Panarin’s centerman for much of the last three seasons and is a proven two-way force. He wins faceoffs, logs minutes on both special teams units, and brings leadership to the locker room.
He’s also an Olympian - the type of player playoff contenders covet. If the Rangers decide to move him, they’ll get a solid return.
And let’s be honest: they wouldn’t trade him unless they were confident in the value coming back.
After Wednesday’s game, Trocheck was asked whether the team is savoring its final days together or bracing for the next shoe to drop. His response was telling.
“You can't look at it like that,’’ he said. “You can't go about your day being scared of what's gonna happen next. You’ve got to... embrace any moment that you have together and love everybody in this locker room and cherish every second that we have together - every time we're on the ice together, road trips, all that.’’
It’s the kind of quote that speaks to the emotional toll of a rebuild. These players know what’s coming, even if they’re trying to stay in the moment.
If Trocheck is moved, the coaching staff will have some tough decisions to make. One possibility?
Splitting up the J.T. Miller-Mika Zibanejad duo, which, along with Gabe Perreault, has been the Rangers’ most productive line of late.
But if Trocheck is gone, Sullivan may have no choice but to slot Miller and Zibanejad down the middle on the top two lines. That would shake up the chemistry and force a reshuffling of the top six.
Then there’s the bigger question: What’s the plan for 2026-27?
Panarin’s departure leaves a massive hole - not just in terms of production, but in how this team operates offensively. And if Trocheck and others follow, the Rangers will need a new identity.
Could they find a Panarin replacement in free agency? Maybe.
But even if Panarin hits the open market this summer - and doesn’t sign an extension with his new team - it’s hard to imagine anyone else replicating what he brought to the Garden.
That puts GM Chris Drury in a pivotal position. He’s got assets to work with.
The Rangers hold two first-round picks - their own, and another from either Dallas or Carolina via the K’Andre Miller trade. That gives them flexibility: use both to build through the draft, trade one for a more immediate contributor, or package both to land a high-impact player.
Their own pick is currently projected to fall in the top five. According to Tankathon.com, they had a 9.8% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick before Thursday’s game. While this year’s draft class doesn’t appear to have a can’t-miss superstar like Macklin Celebrini or Connor Bedard, there’s still a crop of eight or nine high-end prospects that could help shape the next phase of the franchise.
The question is: how quickly can that next phase take shape?
The Rangers are entering a stretch where development will be prioritized over results. That can be frustrating for fans used to playoff pushes and star power, but it’s also a necessary step if they want to build something sustainable. The talent is coming - some of it is already here - but patience will be key.
The Garden may not be rocking every night over the next few months, but for those paying attention, this is the start of a new chapter. One that’s going to be written by names like Perreault, Othmann, and whoever Drury brings in next.