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  • The Wild Need To Put Artemi Panarin On Their Christmas Wishlist

    Image courtesy of Brad Penner-Imagn Images
    Kalisha Turnipseed

    By Kalisha Turnipseed -

    The Minnesota Wild are still looking for their Christmas miracle on West 7th Street. General manager Bill Guerin should add New York Rangers’ star forward Artemi Panarin to his wishlist. Panarin is more of a trade deadline target, but the Wild could target Panarin sooner than that. 

    Here's why Guerin should keep a close eye on the Rangers:

    The Rangers aren't in a rush to extend Panarin

    New York isn’t rushing to extend Panarin. He’s approaching his mid-30s, at which point he's expected to decline. However, Brad Marchand is showing everyone that age is just a number. Panarin is a much better player than Marchand, though. 

    The Rangers may be looking for cap flexibility. They recently extended Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million extension ($11.5 million AAV). They traded Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks for cap space. Don't be surprised to see them make more roster changes. 

    If the Rangers start the season with more regression from their top players in Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Alexis Lafreniere, then Panarin would likely be open to a trade. Don't be surprised if the Wild are interested in him, especially Kaprizov. 

    Could Kaprizov convince Panarin to come to Minnesota? 

    Panarin is declining, but still a productive player

    Panarin, 33, may no longer be a 100-point player, but the Wild don’t need that. They have Kaprizov. Panarin just needs to be a point-per-game player. We’ve seen what Mats Zuccarello is capable of as Kaprizov's 37-year-old sidekick. Panarin undoubtedly can do better than Zuccarello. 

    Panarin finished tied for 13th with 37 goals in all situations, ahead of:

    Panarin was tied for 30th with primary assists with 27 in all situations, ahead of:

    Panarin was 9th in 11.6 goals above expected in all situations, ahead of:

    Panarin finished 26th in Goals Per 60 Minutes (G/60) with 1.41 goals in all situations, ahead of: 

    • Fiala (1.4)
    • M. Tkachuk (1.39)
    • Jarvis (1.36)
    • Kucherov (1.34)
    • Jack Hughes (1.25)
    • Rantanen (1.1)
    • Aho (1.1)
    • Eichel (1.06)
    • Connor McDavid (1.06)
    • Boldy (0.97) 

    Panarin finished 20th in Points Per 60 Minutes (P/60) with 3.39 points in all situations, ahead of: 

    • Robertson (3.29)
    • Point (3.28)
    • Hughes (3.24)
    • Nylander (3.15)
    • Aleksander Barkov (3.14)
    • Rantanen (3.03)
    • Reinhart (3)
    • Boldy (2.63) 

    Panarin was tied for 120th in 5-on-4 G/60 goals with 1.55, ahead of: 

    • Eichel (1.45)
    • Boldy (1.44)
    • Kucherov (1.3)
    • Mitch Marner (1.3)
    • Hughes (1.27)
    • Kaprizov (0.95)
    • Aho (0.9)
    • Stützle (0.45)

    Panarin finished 25th in 5-on-4 Assists Per 60 Minutes (A/60) with 4.65 assists, ahead of: 

    • Matthews (4.37)
    • Leon Draisaitl (4.28)
    • M.Tkachuk (4.09)
    • Aho (4.05)
    • Nylander (3.78) 
    • Point (3.19) 
    • Boldy (3.13)
    • Jarvis (3.04) 
    • Fiala (2.81) 
    • Rantanen (2.79) 
    • Robertson (2.17) 

    Panarin and Crosby are the “old” timers on this list, and they're showing that age is only a number. Panarin bested someone like Matthews, who finished one goal shy of 70 goals in 2023-24.

    MacKinnon is a consistent 100-point scorer, but wasn't able to beat Panarin. Marner became a 100-point scorer for the first time, but it wasn't enough. Eichel finally broke out into a 90-point producer, yet fell short of beating Panarin. 

    Panarin recorded a better G/60 than McDavid, who’s supposedly the best player in the world. Panarin also proved his worth as a better A/60 producer than Draisaitl. McDavid and Draisaitl are the NHL's best present-day duo despite not having a Stanley Cup, showing that Panarin can still hang with the best. 

    Although he’s 33, Panarin will likely remain in his prime for the next three years. When he approaches his late 30s, we'll start to see a real decline. However, I still expect him to remain a top-six/middle-six winger in his 40s. He has become the best undrafted player since Martin St. Louis.

    Alex Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky in goals, but Panarin is on a journey to pass St. Louis in scoring. Now it's Panarin's turn to make history of his own:  

    • 163 points away from tying St. Louis (1033)
    • 89 goals away from tying St. Louis (391)
    • 74 assists away from tying St. Louis (642)

    Panarin should likely pass St. Louis within two years. Will it be with the Rangers, though? 

    How likely is Kaprizov to convince Panarin to waive his NMC? 

    The Wild must ensure that Panarin truly wants to play in Minnesota. How much can Kaprizov convince Panarin to play with him on the top line? The Wild will have to prove to Panarin that they are a legit contender, much like they need to with Kaprizov. 

    For example, the Colorado Avalanche traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he and Aho are close friends. Aho was excited due to their history and Finnish connection. However, that wasn't enough to keep Rantanen in Carolina. Rantanen preferred to play with the Dallas Stars rather than the Hurricanes and forced a trade. 

    Guerin should be all-in on Panarin if the Rangers don't sign him. The Wild can excel at a new level with Panarin dominating with Kaprizov. Panarin would also be reuniting with Vladimir Tarasenko, which should be another reason for him to waive the no-trade clause. 

    However, Panarin could still choose a better destination to compete. Panarin is regressing, but at a slow pace. Ovechkin and Marchand have shown to be elite veterans. Panarin is more than capable of being an elite veteran and could help drive winning for the Wild.

    By Kalisha Turnipseed  

    Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.

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    MacGyver

    Well they do have the same agent. Kaprisov has commented more than once that Panrin and Ovi are his idols. I would wager the likely hood of Kaprisov going to the Rangers is greater than Panarin coming here. 

    4 hours ago, Lovehockey said:

    I hope that opposite would not happen - Panarin convince Kaprisov to sign with Rangers 

     

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    Dango
    52 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

    Well they do have the same agent. Kaprisov has commented more than once that Panrin and Ovi are his idols. I would wager the likely hood of Kaprisov going to the Rangers is greater than Panarin coming here. 

     

    Well that would put him on the national spotlight if thats what he likes .

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    MacGyver
    11 hours ago, Dango said:

    Well that would put him on the national spotlight if thats what he likes .

    I don't think it's what he would prefer. I honestly believe that he likes being here in Minnesota. It's been reported that he rarely leaves his apartment and spends much of his time playing video games. He's a bit of a introvert I think which is why he's not splashed all over the local media hawking car dealerships, insurance or bathroom remodels. 

    BUT he came to the NHL for one reason. Get that Stanley Cup. The pinnacle of any pro hockey players career. He probably feels the pressure of doing it sooner than later given his injury history. If he has to go to a high profile team that puts more of a spot light on him he would make that sacrifice. 

    Also I'm sure he does not want to play the majority of his career not hoisting the Cup only to be traded at the end of his career as a ride along on a team that is on the verge. He wants to be in his prime leading the team to the promised land.

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    mnfaninnc

    mnfaninnc 4,546

    Posted (edited)

    Kaprizov looked really hungry last season before the injury, like he was on a mission. I imagine it will be even more so this season. Is the Breadman obtainable? 

    So, Kalisha didn't really get into it, but what would be the trade package needed to get him here? And, if we go all in on Panarin, what happens if Crosby becomes available. I would think Shooter has an inside track on that situation. Which would be better for our team?

    For both, I wouldn't mind giving up some older players + futures, but if we're going to gut the kids who just got here (not the ones in the A), then what were we all waiting for all these years?

    There's not much talk in Pittsburgh about trading Crosby now, but if the season goes south from the beginning, there is a lot of speculation that this will happen, maybe even before NYR is ready to give up Panarin. When you look at the 2 players, I believe Crosby fills the most holes that we have at the present time. 

    Reading the national boards this morning, 2 names stand out to me as being in the rumor mill. Voronkov and McTavish. Long term, I think putting our eggs in their basket might be the most fruitful way of solving our problems for many years to come. But, if the 2nd round hump is the next necessary step, I believe we should start getting 87 jerseys ready.

    Edited by mnfaninnc
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    MacGyver

    I just don't see Crosby leaving the Pens. He has won his Cups and has stated many times he wants to finish his career there. But then I never guessed Marchand going to the Panthers either. Panarin seems the more likely to be moved between the two but I still see it going the other way. Kaprizov to New York. But frankly the chance of either happening is slim to none. Just ask Marchand! 🤣

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    1Brotherbill

    So, if this is a thing at the trade deadline they would have to move money to get him. That would be 11.5 million.  Since for the most part most Wild players are low paid, which doesn't make sense, they would have to move more than just one.  If they keep the salary cap money they have now minus 7 for Rossi, they would still have to move over 8 million in contracts to equal out the Cap situation.  Hartman and Foglino seem like good candidates but that would mean you loose the little playoff grit you have.   Go into the Defensive players and Spurgeon is a very good candidate.  I assume that both Spurgeon and Hartman have the Rangers on their modified trade candidates.  So, a trade deadline deal is a possibility.

    A trade before training camp would be much better.  The trade would be Rossi and a Bogo, to make up the money' for Panarin.  This scenario would mean Hartman, Yurov, Ek and Sturm would be your centers with Trenin and Johansson your terrible backups.  However, the scoring in this lineup would be pretty good.  

    Panarin would be nice to have but I don't think it would be possible without some major changes. 

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    mnhockeyfan03

    No to Panarin.  Plays a very soft game and is loosing a step every year.  His stats are elevated from PP time and also playing in the east with no checking.  Same reason Wild play good against the east is no checking as we are a small team.  Same reason Rossi would play well for an east team and doesn’t against the west unless it’s the bad west teams.  

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    FredJohnson
    On 7/26/2025 at 2:07 PM, Lovehockey said:

    I hope that opposite would not happen - Panarin convince Kaprisov to sign with Rangers 

    My brain went here too. 😧

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    FredJohnson
    12 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

    No to Panarin.  Plays a very soft game and is loosing a step every year.  His stats are elevated from PP time and also playing in the east with no checking.  Same reason Wild play good against the east is no checking as we are a small team.  Same reason Rossi would play well for an east team and doesn’t against the west unless it’s the bad west teams.  

    Does he weigh 200 lbs.? (Nope...bust)

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    SkolWild73
    12 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

     His stats are elevated from PP time

    He was 17th in the league last year in points per 60 at even strength, ahead of players like Eichel, Tkachuk and Rantanen, and 6th in 2023/24.  I think he does just fine at even strength.

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