Artemi Panarin has been one of the most productive players in the NHL since arriving in New York, but after another disappointing season for the Rangers and with Panarin entering the final year of his contract, his future is suddenly uncertain. At 34 years old and with a massive cap hit, the team must decide whether to keep him as a cornerstone or explore moving on as part of a roster reset.
After following up a record-breaking 2023–24 season that ended in heartbreak with a loss to the eventual back-to-back champion Florida Panthers, the Rangers may have had the most disappointing season in franchise history.