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Artemi Panarin Makes Admission Amid Rangers Contract Stalemate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Nov 7, 2025 10:00 AM ET

Artemi Panarin is dealing with both an on-ice scoring slump and increasing uncertainty about his future with the New York Rangers.

The 34-year-old winger has gone six straight games without a point, the longest slump of his 11-year NHL career.

Over the full season to date, Panarin has just seven points in 14 games, with four coming in a single night against the Montreal Canadiens.

In an interview with The Athletic's Vince Mercogliano, Panarin acknowledged his struggles, along with the speculation about his future, are impacting his performance.

“I need to do more,” Panarin said. “ I’ve got to play with the puck more. I missed training camp, had a couple issues. I wasn’t feeling right from a conditioning standpoint in the first couple games. I started getting frustrated right away, and then it kind of goes into the contract and all that stuff in my head.”

As far as where things stand between Artemi Panarin and the #NYR on a new contract, he told me, “They’ve talked, but not much right now.”

Here’s more on what I’m hearing about the pending UFA and how the worst scoring stretch of his career factors in https://t.co/hMzfTAp29a
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 7, 2025

Panarin is in the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million deal. According to Panarin, via Mercogliano, negotiations between the Rangers and Panarin’s agent have taken place, but have stalled.

“They’ve talked,” Panarin said about Rangers president Chris Drury and his agent, Paul Theofanous. “But not much right now.”

The forward also confirmed he would like to stay in New York, but admitted the ongoing uncertainty is wearing on him.

“It’s not an easy time, but I can’t be frustrated,” Panarin said. “I’ve been in a similar situation – never like this – but it’s the same tools, right? I’ve gotten past this thing by just keep working and trying to be mentally in the right spot. … There’s only one way to win this battle.

“I can’t say I’m thinking about that in the game, [but] sometimes I think [it could be a factor].”

New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin (10) during a stoppage in play.Bob Frid-Imagn Images

For now, there is no sign the Rangers are ready to commit to a contract extension unless Panarin takes a discount.

According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, Panarin made clear he won't hand the Rangers a home discount.

“The pending UFA has made it clear to the Rangers that he is not interested in a pay cut,” Kypreos wrote. “That has shut down any chance of negotiations. The Rangers don’t want him at that same rate again.”

Panarin has appeared in 444 games with the Rangers, scoring 557 points for the franchise.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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