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Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Panthers Are Unlikely to Trade for Artemi Panarin

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Joey Ganzi | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 2:15 PM ET

The Florida Panthers are fighting for a playoff spot with five games left before the Olympic break. With a record of 28-21-3 and 59 points, they are six points behind the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens for the wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference in their quest for a third straight Stanley Cup.

The team is slowly getting some missing pieces back from injury, including forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand, while captain Aleksander Barkov started skating on Tuesday. There has been speculation that the Panthers could be interested in New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who was a healthy scratch against the New York Islanders on Wednesday and is not expected to play again before the roster freeze ahead of the Olympics. That speculation is too good to be true, since the Panthers would have to move mountains to land him.

Panarin’s Contract is a Boulder, Even if Some Salary is Retained

In 2018, Panarin signed a seven-year deal worth over $11.6 million per years, which expires at the end of this season, hence the rumors of his departure.

Even if Rangers general manager Chris Drury was willing retain some of his salary, the contract is still too expensive, considering Florida has a little over $2.5 million in cap space.

The Rangers Will Want a Big Piece or Pick

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Rangers’ asking price for Panarin is similar to what the Islanders got for forward Brock Nelson, who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche last March: a first-round pick and a potential prospect with maybe a high-round pick sprinkled in.

That is a price the Panthers cannot afford. General manager Bill Zito does not have a first-round pick until 2028, and the team only has three draft picks in the 2026 NHL Draft: the second round, fifth round, and sixth round.

As for a high-level prospect, the team has some promising young players in their pipeline, like Jack Studnicka, Cole Schwindt, and Jack Devine. However, despite the difficulty in finding room for them on the NHL roster, it’s unlikely that the front office is willing to part with them for immediate help.

Even if Panarin Joins the Panthers, There’s No Guarantee He Stays

If the Panthers manage to trade for Panarin, right now, there’s no guarantee he will sign an extension to stay in Florida.

Assuming he did want to stay, how much would he want? Considering he’s only a couple of years removed from a 120-point season (49 goals, 71 assists) that also included 15 playoff points (five goals, 10 assists) in 16 games, he may still have gas left in the tank and could ask for a contract similar to that of Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand. If that is the case, Zito might not be in a position to offer that.

Panarin to Florida Won’t Happen

Despite being good friends with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, the Russian forward is not coming to Broward County, Florida. Other teams will be able to offer more than the Panthers for his services, putting them in a bidding war that they’ll inevitably lose. That said, Zito has shocked the hockey world before. Unlikely does not necessarily mean impossible. In the meantime, the Panthers visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night as they continue their push for the playoffs.