Are the Maple Leafs Eyeing Artemi Panarin as a Trade Deadline Option?
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
According to NHL Insider David Pagontta, the New York Rangers would like to trade pending free agent Artemi Panarin as opposed to lose him for nothing in the summer.
Coming off a tough 2-1 OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers have struggled to start this season despite some outstanding goaltending from Igor Shesterkin.
Their stars haven't performed nearly up to their expectations and it seems that no one is struggling more to start than star forward Artemi Panarin. The 'Bread Man' has only two assists through six games, a far cry from his offensive dominance in recent years.
Insider Reveals Rangers May Be Willing To Trade Artemi Panarin
He's also a pending free agent which is making things tough for GM Chris Drury, and while he is getting up there in age at 33, he still has a good solid five or six years left in the league.
Not wanting to risk losing him for nothing this upcoming summer, the Rangers would love to get a deal done and according to David Pagnotta; that's exactly their train of thought:
I don't think they really want to be in a position to lose a player like that for nothing, when there are teams that would love to get their hands on him [Panarin].
It would be a complete overhaul of the Rangers, a process that started last year with the trades of Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider, not to mention dishing off K'Andre Miller to Carolina earlier this summer.
One team who would love to get their hands on him are the Toronto Maple Leafs, and maybe a change of scenery and a chance to win will spark him offensively again.
Why Artemi Panarin Makes Perfect Sense For Maple Leafs
The team needs someone to add just a little bit more punch and solidify the top line alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. The combination of those three could rival any top trio in the league, and Panarin has some serious chops.
He has 397 points over his last four seasons alone, good for an average of 99.25 per season; that's Mitch Marner levels of production and then some. But it's not just playmaking either; 137 of those points are goals.
Plus he has 61 points in 73 playoff games, so you're adding someone who has that much needed postseason production.
You're putting a perennial 30-goal, 60-assist player on a line with a perennial 50+ goal scorer and someone who is easily going to score 30+ for his career.
That is the potential to bring in over 100 goals on the top line alone, and with William Nyander and John Tavares able to hit 75-80 as well; suddenly Toronto's offense is quite potent.
Couple that with the added depth who can score at a moment's notice, and the Maple Leafs will not only score in bunches with Panarin, but find themselves in a much better position come the postseason.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 18|1128 ANSWERS Are the Maple Leafs Eyeing Artemi Panarin as a Trade Deadline Option? Should the Toronto Maple Leafs make a trade for Artemi Panarin? | ||
| Yes | 573 | 50.8 % |
| No | 555 | 49.2 % |
| List of polls | ||