No extension coming in New York, is Florida next for this Rangers forward?

Elliotte Friedman reported Friday that Rangers president Chris Drury informed Panarin he will not be offered a contract extension. The same report says Drury is prepared to work with Panarin and his agent on any trade destination.

That matters because Panarin is in the final year of his deal and owns a full no-move clause, so nothing happens without his yes. His contract runs through 2025-26 with an $11,642,857 cap hit, which is a giant number for any contender to swallow.

Panarin is also still producing, which is why this rumor feels dangerous for the rest of the league. HockeyDB and ESPN both have him at 16 goals and 51 points through 47 games this season.

As a fan, I can already picture him on the left wall, slowing the game down, then snapping a seam pass that breaks a penalty kill.

On the ice, he would instantly give Florida a clean entry machine and a power-play brain that creates chances without chaos. The Panthers generate pressure anyway, Panarin would turn more of that pressure into tap-ins and rebound goals.

The big question is cost, because a rental only makes sense if the math works and the price does not gut the room. Florida has lived tight to the cap in recent seasons, so any move would likely mean salary going out and retention coming back.

There is also the human angle, because veterans love a Cup window and Florida sells that better than almost anyone right now. The weather helps, the travel is friendly, and the room has the kind of confidence stars want to join.

For now, this stays in the «watch it closely» category, not the «book it» category. But if Panarin is truly available, Florida is exactly the kind of contender that should at least pick up the phone.

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