Artemi Panarin not part of New York Rangers roster as team make big move ahead of NHL trade deadline

The New York Rangers made a big move in their roster shake-up on Wednesday, deciding to scratch star forward Artemi Panarin in a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The decision was officially described as “roster management.” Still, its implications go far beyond a single game, clearly pointing to a trade or a long-term decision about one of the most prolific players on the Rangers’ roster.

Artemi Panarin will not play for the Rangers in their last two games before the NHL roster freeze for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which begins Feb. 4. With the Rangers sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and seemingly getting further away from contention, the decision to scratch their leading scorer is a clear indication of a turning point for a team that has already admitted to the need for a change.

Artemi Panarin trade rumors grow as New York Rangers begin roster revamp

Artemi Panarin, 33, is in the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract, which features a full no-movement clause. Earlier this month, Rangers general manager Chris Drury told the winger that the organization does not intend to offer him a new contract but will assist him in finding a new team before the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. In light of this, the decision to hold Panarin out of the lineup now seems to be either injury prevention or a sign that negotiations with potential trade partners are heating up.

Since coming to New York, only Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak, and Nikita Kucherov have scored more than Panarin in the NHL. However, this level of individual play has not led to team success this year. The Rangers are currently 22-26-6, having lost 12 of their last 15 games, and are last in the Eastern Conference with 50 points.

This lineup decision comes just under two weeks after Drury penned a letter to fans confirming that the Rangers would not “stand pat” but would instead overhaul the roster.

The Rangers have already begun this overhaul, trading defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders earlier this week. With the Olympic break and trade deadline quickly approaching, Panarin’s absence may only be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the changes that are to come.

In the coming weeks, the future of the Rangers may be rewritten, and it may not include the player who has defined the team’s offense for the last part of five years.


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