The Minnesota Wild could emerge as a dark-horse contender for Artemi Panarin, the New York Rangers' star winger who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. While the Wild's most pressing need is at center, the allure of adding a player of Panarin's caliber, especially given his existing connection with Kirill Kaprizov, makes the possibility intriguing.
Panarin, 33, is in the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract. Recent reports suggest that the Rangers offered him a contract extension with a reduced salary cap hit, similar to Anze Kopitar's deal with the Los Angeles Kings, but Panarin declined. This has led to speculation that the Rangers might consider trading Panarin if they are not in playoff contention by the trade deadline.
Frank Seravalli, a well-known NHL insider, has fueled the rumors, suggesting that Minnesota could be a potential landing spot for Panarin. He notes the existing "Russian connection," as Panarin and Kaprizov share the same agent and are friends. This familiarity could ease Panarin's transition to a new team and potentially unlock even greater offensive potential.
"I could see that. I think that would make a ton of sense. Obviously the Russian connection, Panarin and (Kirill) Kaprizov have the same agent. They're friends," Seravalli said. "I think, unfortunately for Minnesota, Panarin isn't a center, which is what they really need. But they've got some cap space this year, and if you could find a way to make a reasonable deal for Panarin, I think that they could make it an interesting fit".
The Wild's potential interest in Panarin hinges on a few factors. First, the Rangers would need to be out of the playoff picture to be motivated to trade him. Second, the Wild would need to be comfortable with the risk of acquiring Panarin as a rental player, as he could become a free agent at the end of the season. Third, any team signing Panarin to a long-term deal risks a decline in production due to his age. He will turn 34 later this month.
Despite these considerations, Panarin's offensive prowess is undeniable. He has consistently been a high-impact player, recording at least 74 points in all but one of his NHL seasons. He has posted four consecutive impressive campaigns with 96 points in 2021-22, 92 in 2022-23, 120 in 2023-24, and 89 in 2024-25.
The Wild have a promising young core, with eight players aged 24 or under. Seravalli believes the team is "cracking into that upper-echelon of teams" and could be a Stanley Cup contender in the next two to three years. Adding a player like Panarin could accelerate that timeline, providing a significant offensive boost and veteran leadership.
"Minnesota's a team to watch in general as they build, because I think they're just sort of cracking into that upper-echelon of teams that also have some youth to them — eight players on their roster, 24 or under — that it's going to be a really exciting time for the Wild as they begin to bolt on special parts and pieces to this team," Seravalli said. "I think we're talking about two to three years from now where you're going to see the Wild in that contender category for a Stanley Cup".
While the Wild may not be the most obvious suitor for Panarin, the combination of Kaprizov's presence, the team's potential cap space, and the desire to contend could make them a team to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
