A reunion between Artemi Panarin and Jeff Gorton possible?

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Jeff Drouin
June 23, 2022 (7:41 PM)

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While the New York Rangers have had a very successful season, the team seems to be at a crossroads in terms of its future.

General Manager Chris Drury has his work cut out for him to take this team to another level next season. He obviously has core pieces in place with Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, veteran leaders like Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Miika Zibenajad and promising players like Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko. But Drury will have to dig deeper to add depth to that. It will also require the club's best players to show up when it counts.

As it stands, Rangers insider Arthur Staple reports that Drury was "vocally unhappy" with Panarin's performance in the playoffs, in particular, and that this could cause a rift between the general manager and the player.

According to Staple:

"However, two league sources said Drury was unhappy with Panarin's play in the playoffs, when he had 16 points in 20 games, but not the consistent impact that anyone around the Rangers hoped or needed. If there's a breakup, Panarin could ask, as nearly impossible as it would be, to move that mammoth contract." - Arthur Staple

When you consider that Panarin was Jeff Gorton's man and not Drury's, it wouldn't be surprising if the Rangers GM tried to part with him. But his salary taking over $11.6 million from the Rangers' salary cap for another four seasons will make it more difficult.

Do you think Gorton might be inclined to bring his man back? To be seen in the coming weeks...