Anaheim Ducks & New York Rangers Linked to Blockbuster Trade

The New York Rangers are working with Artemi Panarin to find him a new team before the trade deadline this season. GM Chris Drury has made it clear as day that the team won't be offering Panarin a contract extension, and they'll begin their re-tool, looking to move Panarin for a package that includes a first-round pick, top prospect, and a conditional draft pick/mid-level prospect.

While Panarin holds all the say because of his full no-movement clause, there's been a few teams thrown out there as potential landing spot, however, one favourite has emerged and that's the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks have a lot going for them. GM Pat Verbeek has been aggressive in year's past and has done business with the Rangers before, so the relationship exists with Drury. They have boat loads of cap space and could easily re-sign Panarin to a long-term extension. They have a young, emerging team who are destined for the playoffs this season and beyond. The weather is amazing, and they also have Panarin's old coach from his days with the Blackhawks in Joel Quenneville. 

Look for the Ducks to be one of the three finalists for Panarin's services, and it's going to come down to where he wants to spend the next six-to-eight years of his career. An extension is expected to be part of the trade, which is likely why he hasn't been moved already.

As far as trade pieces go for the Ducks, who enter Sunday with a 27-21-3 record, Verbeek has 2026 first-round pick, he has three 2027 second-rounders, you can bet one of those is going to New York, and there's young defencemen Olen Zellweger or Roger McQueen, who could be included in the deal. Plenty of options depending on what exactly Drury is looking for, but McQueen, a first-rounder and a future second, is a great haul.

Keep an eye on these two teams, big move could be incoming involving Panarin.

Photo credit:  Danny Wild-Imagn Images