We now have to wait for Artemi Panarin and Alex Tuch
Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta joined Steve Kouleas and Craig Button on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on Thursday and was asked about the latest between Artemi Panarin and the New York Rangers, along with Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabers.
NHLRumors.com Transcripts
Steve Kouleas: “So we don’t have the sexiness staring us in the face when it comes to UFAs heading into 2026. I’ll just start with (Artemi) Panarin, and what may or may not happen there in terms of waiting for contracts. Obviously, if certain teams like Buffalo are out again, there could be a huge trade deadline acquisition when it comes to a UFA player. So let’s start with Panarin and what may or may not happen could happen in New York.”
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Dave Pagnotta: “Well, it doesn’t sound like there’s too much pressure on things right now, if at all. I think there’s an understanding that the team is probably going to want to go a little bit shorter in that three-year term, whereas the player, who, I think you just turned 34, is just turning 35, is probably going to argue for something like that for a five-year term, and then you have to run the numbers right now.
At the same time, he enjoys it there, it seems clear that he would like to stay in New York. But most of all, the Rangers will have to make a decision regarding where the heck this team is going. Well, what’s the direction? Nice victory yesterday (Wednesday). But what is the direction of this club, and is this sustainable? Can everyone get on track and push this team back into the playoffs like they did a few years ago?
And I think internally, at least within management’s mindset, this will dictate the desire to keep Panarin in the mix longer, say, for a three-year term. So those discussions, again, I don’t think they’re too far ahead of themselves at this point in terms of those conversations.
We know that Buffalo and Alex Tuch’s camp has kept an open line. No one’s turning down calls here, but that one doesn’t seem too close either, and as for the Tuck side, as much as he’d like to be there, and has expressed, he likes it in Buffalo, where he’s from. This is another team that is clearly on the move, which makes it the hottest spot for him right now.
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That’s something else that will have to be determined. And if we find out that if this team stays at the bottom and they can’t climb out, yeah, and you, if you’re Kevyn Adams and company, you’re looking at this in the future, we might have a pretty solid chip here to beat the deadline, and if we want to reconvene in July, then we’ll try our luck with the other teams, but at the very least, if we can’t get anything now, let’s try to do some digging around in the meantime and clean out our cupboards a little bit fill.”
Craig Button: “Well, two things I would say is that I like Alex Tuch. I think Alex Tuch is a very good player. I think he’ll fit into any team in the league and all that. I think Alex Tuch has to ask himself the question: he’s not going to badmouth Buffalo or anything. But why would Alex Tuch want to stay in Buffalo with a team that hasn’t shown any signs of progress when any other serious team would still want him, that’s just my comment.”
Pagnotta: “First of all, Craig, I agree with you, in terms of talking, that’s a big part of, I think, his internal debate within himself and obviously his family and his agent to determine what the best course of action is for him for his career. So I’m sure, without a doubt, you want answers about the direction of this team? And obviously they’ve tried to do quick fixes, and that never really works in this league. So what is the actual situation planning?”
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