It is January 1, 2026, and the standings don’t lie. Sitting 7th in the Metropolitan Division despite having played the most games in the Conference, the New York Rangers are officially in the danger zone. Mike Sullivan, now the highest-paid coach in the league, was brought in to push a “win-now” core over the edge. Instead, we are watching a slow-motion crash.
The hard truth? The window hasn’t just closed; it has been slammed shut. With the March 6 NHL trade deadline looming, GM Chris Drury cannot afford to be sentimental. This isn’t about tweaking the fourth line; it’s about recognizing that this roster, as currently constructed, is finished. To reward the click immediately: The Rangers must become sellers. Specifically, they need to approach Artemi Panarin about waiving his no-movement clause and finally cut the cord on the Alexis Lafreniere experiment.
Artemi Panarin and the End of the “Win-Now” Era
The Rangers are currently at a massive crossroads. The core group—Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller, and Artemi Panarin—are all 32 or older. In a league that is getting younger and faster every single season, the Blueshirts look slow.
The biggest domino here is Panarin. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. If the Rangers are not in a guaranteed playoff spot by mid February, keeping him is managerial malpractice. You cannot lose an asset of that magnitude for nothing, especially when the team needs to get younger, faster, and more skilled.
My personal insight is this: Drury has to have the uncomfortable conversation. Panarin has controlled his destiny in New York, but if the choice is missing the playoffs with a stagnant Rangers team or chasing a Cup elsewhere, he might finally waive that clause. If he stays, and the Rangers miss the postseason, it sets the franchise back five years.
Alexis Lafreniere: Time for a Fresh Start?
While the veterans are aging out, the youth movement hasn’t saved them. The situation with Alexis Lafreniere has become untenable. We have been waiting for the breakout that simply hasn’t arrived consistently enough to justify his untouchable status.
Lafreniere needs a change of scenery, plain and simple. He has been linked to the Vancouver Canucks for seasons now, and frankly, a deal there makes sense for both sides. The Rangers need to stop hoping on potential and start acquiring assets that fit a re-tooling timeline. Drury will likely try to peddle players who no longer fit the plans, and sadly, Lafreniere currently fits that description.
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