Artemi Panarin could request a trade despite his impossible contract

Following the New York Rangers’ season roundup, team insider Arthur Staple for the Athletic drew considerable attention in his report when he cited two league sources claiming general manager Chris Drury was “vocally unhappy” with Artemi Panarin’s performance in the 2022 playoffs.

Panarin put up 16 points in 20 playoff games, but lacked consistency. While the Russian sniper has a hefty contract in hand, Staple dared to speculate he could request a trade if a rift keeps developing with GM Drury. This is how Staple puts it:

“This was a tough category to place the team’s leading scorer in. And given Panarin’s full no-move clause for the remaining four years of his contract, it’s darn near impossible to see him going anywhere. However, two league sources said Drury was vocally unhappy about Panarin’s play in the postseason, when he had 16 points in 20 games but not the consistent impact anyone around the Rangers hoped for or needed. If there’s a rift, Panarin could ask out, as near-impossible as it would be to move this mammoth contract.”

The Rangers have yet to comment on what Staples is reporting. There is no doubt that IF, and I say IF, Panarin demands a trade out, there would be a lot of teams interested in acquiring his services.

But Staple is clear about Panarin’s contract: he’s signed through 2025-26 with an annual average value of over $11.6 million and a full no-movement clause. That’s quite the deal to move…

This wouldn’t be the first time for GM Drury to get in a rift with a player - last fall he demoted forward Vitali Kravtsov who refused to go to the minors. He spent this season in the KHL and his name was often mentioned in trade circles, but it sounds like Drury and the winger worked things out. Kravtsov agreed to a one-year, $875K contract, meaning there is hope for reconciliation between the GM and his players…

It remains to be seen - if the report is true - if Panarin feels the same way…