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Rangers GM Chris Drury reportedly miffed with Panarin's postseason performance

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TJ Tucker
June 23, 2022  (6:23 PM)
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It seems New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury is not too happy with one of his star players. An article by The Athletic's Arthur Staple, in which he takes a player-by-player look at who's staying and who's going in the offseason for the Blueshirts, he states Drury was "vocally unhappy" with Artemi Panarin's play in the postseason. Staple put Panarin in the category of "Staying, but for how long?"

This was a tough category to place the team's leading scorer in. And given Panarin's full no-move clause for the remaining four years of his contract, it's darn near impossible to see him going anywhere. However, two league sources said Drury was vocally unhappy about Panarin's play in the postseason, when he had 16 points in 20 games but not the consistent impact anyone around the Rangers hoped for or needed. If there's a rift, Panarin could ask out, as near-impossible as it would be to move this mammoth contract. - Arthur Staple, The Athletic.

Panarin led the team in scoring this season, recording 22 goals and 96 points. At the same time, that's what you'd expect from a player with an annual cap hit of $11.64 million. While the contract is massive (it doesn't run out until 2026 when he will be 34), if Panarin wants out, there are teams that will at least try to bring him in. He's just that good. The return could also be a gold mine for the Rangers. My guess is they wait for at least one more postseason to see what happens.