It would take an incredible amount of cap maneuvering and a significant return if we go back to the New York Rangers, but the Edmonton Oilers might want to call up Chris Drury. After Drury released a statement on behalf of the Rangers organization confirming that top players will be traded as the team re-engages, Artemi Panarin’s name shot to the top of many trade bait boards.
According to Elliotte FriedmanDrury met with Panarin himself, and part of that discussion was to talk about the fact that they will not be offering an extension, and that they are willing to work with him and his agent, Paul Theofanous, to facilitate a trade to a destination of his choosing. The first question would be: Is Edmonton a team he would consider?
Related: Rangers don’t want to extend Artemi Panarin, trade discussed
There are several reasons to think about it. First, there’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He would be a winger on one of those two lines, giving him perhaps the best opportunity to move forward at a pace that would boost his stock when he enters free agency on July 1. For Panarin that is huge.
For the Oilers, they would have one of two solid options: move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the third line at center and have Panarin replace him on McDavid’s left wing, or move Vasily Podkolzin to the third line and put Panarin with Leon Draisaitl and Kasperi Kapanen. Both sound like reasonable moves for the Oilers, but the first option also adds a big asset to the team’s third line in Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton has been looking for a solution for that for some time.
Bowman has a history with Panarin from their days in Chicago. The GM has also undergone some big changes in the past – most recently trying to land Mikko Rantanen before being moved to the Carolina Hurricanes and then to the Dallas Stars.
How could the oil companies finance this?
The Rangers are looking for core young players, prospects and draft picks to kick-start their reorganization. Granted, the Oilers don’t have much going for them, but they do have a few pieces that could work in a rental situation.
The team’s 2027 first-round pick is available for trade. Possible candidates include Ike Howard, Beau Akey, Alec Regula, Quinn Hutson and Josh Samanski. Edmonton would have to return money in the deal, possibly in the form of Andrew Mangiapane, Mattias Janmark or Ty Emberson. The Rangers would also have to eat 50% of Panarin’s contract, potentially involving another team to keep another part of the deal. At over $11 million, Panarin is a non-starter without huge retention.
Next: Cujo and the trade that helped save the Edmonton Oilers
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