There are a few reasons for the Rangers\u2019 prudence, starting with their desire to maintain salary cap flexibility. Drury\u2019s spending power was limited in his first four seasons at the helm, but New York is projected to have over $30 million in cap space heading into next summer. He doesn\u2019t want to commit a large chunk of that money until the market materializes and all options are weighed.<\/p>\n
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\n Artemi Panarin is in a six-game stretch without a point, the longest scoring drought of his 11-year career. (Robert Edwards \/ USA Today Network via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
Also consider that the NHL trade deadline is still four months away. There\u2019s a lot of hockey to be played between now and March 6, with Rangers\u2019 brass waiting to see where the team stands as we get closer to that key date. If they\u2019re in the thick of the playoff race, the odds of Panarin sticking around would seemingly increase. But if the Rangers are stumbling and Drury determines more changes are needed, the possibility of entertaining trade offers for one of his biggest assets can\u2019t be ruled out.<\/p>\n
And, of course, Panarin\u2019s performance will be a major factor. Can his early-season struggles be chalked up to contract distractions? Lingering injuries from training camp? Age and general decline after turning 34 last week? Or a combination of all three? The Rangers have the next few months to sort all of that out and determine the best path forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to help him work through some of the challenges,\u201d said coach Mike Sullivan, who shifted Panarin to yet another new line with Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh for Thursday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n
Panarin insisted he\u2019s up to speed after missing the entire preseason, saying, \u201cI feel good\u201d from a physical standpoint. To him, the key is getting back into the right headspace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little harder every game, but when you start being too sad, it doesn\u2019t help,\u201d he said. \u201cIt just makes it worse. So I\u2019m trying to treat every game like a new game, a new page.\u201d<\/p>\n
The underlying numbers continue to look good. Panarin\u2019s 59.08 percent expected goals-for rate ranks second among New York forwards, according to Natural Stat Trick, but his actual production tells a much different story. The 6-foot, 176-pounder is tied for 12th on the team with only four individual high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five, an indication that he isn\u2019t getting to the hot spots on the ice consistently enough. Compare his current average of 0.29 iHDCF per game to the 0.68 registered in his standout 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not just about a dramatic drop in goals. When Panarin\u2019s at his best, he\u2019s a magician with the puck on his stick. His elite vision and passing are his biggest strengths, but those moments have been far less frequent this season.<\/p>\n