The Toronto Maple Leafs could look into trading for former 120-point scorer Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers if he becomes available.
Panarin is entering the final year of his current contract with the New York Rangers. As such, speculation about his future in New York has gone into overdrive. Now, the prevailing wisdom is that Panarin and the Rangers will find a way to work out a deal. However, there are no guarantees that they will.
So, if the Rangers feel they can’t re-sign Panarin, and they are out of contention for a playoff spot by Christmas or New Year’s, the team could feel compelled to move Panarin and trigger a slight reset.
That’s where the Maple Leafs come in. If the Leafs are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, the team could be compelled to make a move. As a result, a trade for a rental like Artemi Panarin could make sense.
Here’s a look at what this trade could look like:
Maple Leafs get:
Artemi Panarin, F
Rangers get:
Max Domi, F
2028 first-round pick
2026 third-round pick
The first thing that comes to mind is why the Rangers would accept such a low return. Judging from the Rangers’ recent trade history, they’re willing to sell low on veteran players with hefty contracts to free up cap space. Despite Panarin being one year removed from on a 120-point season, the Rangers could forced to trade him anyway.
With Panarin, the Maple Leafs would be helping the Rangers get out from under the final few weeks of Panarin’s $11.5 million cap hit. Plus, getting a player like Max Domi back helps the team retool the roster as it potentially looks to land an NHL Draft Lottery pick.
Maple Leafs Might Have to Rely on Rangers Retaining Salary
This trade proposal does not account for a third-party broker potentially eating up some more of Panarin’s cap hit.
That situation means that, if the Leafs were able to clear up enough space to fit the full amount of Panarin’s $11.5 million cap hit, the deal could be much easier.
Otherwise, the Rangers would have to keep as much as 50% of Panarin’s cap hit. Then, taking on Domi’s contract allows the Leafs to slide in roughly $6 million under the cap.
Of course, this trade proposal assumes the Rangers will help the Maple Leafs by retaining as much as half of Panarin’s cap hit. That’s why part of the package for Panarin includes a first-round pick.
Trade Makes Sense Only If Leafs Look Poised to Make Strong Playoff Run
Trading for Artemi Panarin only makes sense if the Maple Leafs are on track to make a strong playoff run. If Toronto isn’t in a position to seriously contend for the Stanley Cup next season, the club might be better off pursuing other players in the trade market.
If so, it’s an intriguing thought. The Maple Leafs find themselves in a scramble for a playoff spot, potentially one step away from a wild card berth. So, going all-in on a high-profile player like Panarin might be a fool’s errand.
Ultimately, Panarin would be a rental for the Maple Leafs. Unless there was a substantial possibility that Panarin could re-sign with the Leafs long term, Toronto must be careful not to pursue Panarin for the sake of making a splash at the deadline.
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