One Major Trade Target For Panthers May Not Be Realistic

The Florida Panthers are sitting three points out of a playoff spot in the East despite playing better recently and getting Matthew Tkachuk back from an injury suffered prior to this season. Aleksander Barkov still isn't expected back during the regular season at the very least and this team is going to really want to defend their title. Even with the injuries, I don't think missing the playoffs is an option for them.

The Panthers should continue to play better, but it's not easy in the East to gain any ground. There's some cap space, but some would have to be cleared if the team is going to go after a bigger trade target to elevate their team.

Elliotte Freidman said, "I think Artemi Panarin would love to play in Florida, but I just don't know that that's going to be possible."

The New York Rangers are going to be able to get a deal done and move Panarin, but there is going to be more than the Panthers, if they're even considering it, vying for arguably the top trade candidate on the market near the trade deadline.

Panarin has a no-move clause and a large contract, so the Rangers are going to have to at least retain half, if not get a third team involved to make a trade work to a contender with limited cap space. Getting a third team involved is the likeliest solution for Florida, but someone like Evan Rodrigues may be a player that has to be sent back in a deal.

This would be a pure rental for the Panthers as they don't have the cap space when healthy to sign Panarin to the type of deal he would want, even if he takes a bit of a reduction. With the level Panarin has played at throughout his contract with the Rangers, he not only deserves another big deal, there's going to be a few teams willing to give that to him into his late 40's.

While the Panthers aren't in too much trouble this season, they may have to look a little lower than Panarin if they are going to make more additions to their lineup before the trade deadline.