'Starting Point' For Artemi Panarin Trade Revealed

NY Rangers forward Artemi Panarin walks through the tunnel to the ice

The biggest name on the trade market as we quickly approach the Olympic Roster Freeze is undoubtedly New York Rangers pending UFA forward Artemi Panarin. The team has already informed him that he will not be offered a new contract, and they are working with Panarin's camp to try to find a destination that he will approve.

It's going to cost a pretty penny, however, to land the Blueshirts' leading scorer, and one of the top offensive players in the game.

Insider Elliotte Friedman has revealed a recent comparable—a big trade at last year's deadline—that we can use as a comp for what the Rangers will be asking for... just to start:

If you'll remember last year, Brock Nelson was traded from the Islanders to the Colorado Avalanche, and the trade was for Cal Ritchie, a first-rounder and a conditional third (rounder). There were other players involved, but those were the key pieces. And it sounds like that's where the Rangers' starting point is with Panarin right now.

Both Nelson and Panarin were (are) 34 at the time of a trade.

Ritchie was a top prospect for the Avs, and his sensational playmaking ability and hockey IQ have really been on display of late for the Islanders as his rookie season is ramping up.

WHATTA PASS by the rookie Cal Ritchie to put the Isles up late in the 3rd 😳🚨 pic.twitter.com/Vy4h0yCdSp
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 16, 2026

Back to Panarin, however, the big key for other teams, Friedman admits, is figuring out if they can sign the veteran to an extension for that kind of price tag. The Avalanche did sign Nelson to a three-year deal in early June, a full month ahead of his pending free agency.

Panarin has 19 goals and 56 points in 51 games this season, and has 606 points in 481 games with the Rangers in his seven years on Broadway.