Artemi Panarin doesn’t need embellishment. His value to the Rangers - and the league - is written in the numbers.
Over the last seven seasons, he’s been one of the NHL’s top five scorers. That’s not a hot streak.
That’s elite, sustained production year after year. And for the Rangers, it hasn’t just been a luxury - it’s been a lifeline.
Panarin has been the offensive engine, the player opponents circle on the whiteboard and still struggle to contain. You don’t just replace that kind of presence with another 90-point guy - because it’s not just about the points.
It’s about the gravity he creates, the way he bends defensive schemes, opens space for teammates, and gives the Rangers an identity in the offensive zone. Right now, there's no one on the roster who can step into that role.
And that’s a problem.
The “Retool” Label vs. Reality on the Ice
There’s been talk of a retool - a soft reset, not a full teardown. That word implies continuity.
It suggests the core remains intact, that the team still knows who it is and what it’s building around. But if Panarin is on his way out, that identity is up for grabs.
He’s not just the most valuable trade chip on the Rangers roster - he might be the most attractive pending UFA in the league. But he’s not alone.
Vincent Trocheck, signed for another three and a half seasons at a manageable $5.6 million AAV, could draw serious interest from contenders looking to shore up their center depth without blowing up their cap sheet. He’s productive, versatile, and plays with bite - exactly the kind of player playoff teams covet.
But here’s the catch: if both Panarin and Trocheck are moved, how do the Rangers stay competitive in the short term?
Noah Laba: A Bright Spot, Not a Savior
One of the few silver linings this season has been the emergence of rookie center Noah Laba. When Trocheck missed time, Laba stepped in and held his own - playing responsibly, staying within structure, and keeping his shifts from turning into fire drills. That’s no small feat for a young player.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Laba has shown he belongs, but projecting him as a long-term second-line center - or anything close to Trocheck’s level - is premature.
He’s a promising piece, not a proven replacement. And while his development is encouraging, it doesn’t solve the bigger issue: who becomes the Rangers’ offensive focal point?
Is the Answer Already in the Room?
That’s the million-dollar question. And right now, the answer is no.
There’s talent in the system. Gabe Perreault has shown flashes of high-end vision, silky hands, and a feel for the game that jumps off the screen.
He’s clearly part of the long-term plan. But flashes don’t carry a franchise.
They don’t draw top-pairing defenders or tilt playoff series. That kind of player - the one who drives a line and dictates the pace - is rare.
And expecting a young prospect to immediately fill the void left by one of the league’s most consistent scorers isn’t fair to the player or the team.
Perreault’s recent multi-goal game was a glimpse of what could be. But that’s all it is right now - a glimpse.
The Rangers don’t just need someone who can score. They need someone who can lead the offense.
And that player hasn’t emerged yet.
A High Draft Pick… But No Guarantees
The Rangers currently hold the fourth-best odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. That’s a big chip.
But recent history has taught Rangers fans to temper expectations when it comes to lottery luck. A top pick is valuable, no doubt - whether it’s used to select a franchise player or flipped in a blockbuster deal.
But potential is only as good as what you do with it. And for a team that’s trying to stay relevant now, “eventual” doesn’t cut it.
The NHL Landscape Is Unforgiving
Zoom out, and the challenge becomes even clearer. In today’s NHL, top-tier offensive players are eating up more of the cap, and teams without one are finding it harder and harder to generate consistent offense - especially when the games get tight in April and May.
Subtracting a player like Panarin without a clear plan to replace his production isn’t just risky - it’s destabilizing. The league doesn’t reward ambiguity.
It rewards clarity. Teams that know who they are, who drives their offense, and how they’re built to win - those are the teams that stick around.
The Pressure on Management Is Mounting
That’s why the chants of “Fire Drury” ringing through Madison Square Garden aren’t just about a bad week or a losing streak. They’re about direction - or lack thereof.
Fans want to know what the plan is. And if Chris Drury is seriously considering moving on from Panarin, he needs to have that answer ready - not in theory, but in practice.
You don’t trade away one of the most productive players of the last decade and hope something materializes later. That’s not a retool.
That’s a gamble. And for a team trying to stay in the mix, it’s one they can’t afford to get wrong.
Clarity Has to Come - Now
If this is truly a retool, then it’s time for clarity. Moving on from core players like Panarin and Trocheck isn’t just about shifting contracts - it’s about redefining the team’s identity. Right now, that identity is murky.
Mika Zibanejad has been red-hot to start the calendar year, but history suggests this level of production may not be sustainable. J.T.
Miller has only just returned to the Rangers, and while it’s unlikely he’s moved again so soon, fans are right to expect more from their captain. The only two players who feel like foundational pieces right now are Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox - and both of them have missed time with injuries that only underscored how much the team leans on them.
Time for Answers, Not Patience
This isn’t a moment for patience. It’s a moment for answers.
The Rangers need to decide - and soon - what kind of team they want to be. Because in today’s NHL, teams without a clear offensive identity don’t stay in the playoff picture for long.
They drift. They fade.
They become afterthoughts.
And for a franchise that’s been chasing a Stanley Cup for decades, that’s not an option.