Amidst swirling trade rumors, a former Oiler has emerged as a potential trade candidate as the San Jose Sharks aggressively pursue New York Rangers' star winger, Artemi Panarin. The Rangers recently held Panarin out of their lineup for "roster management reasons," a strong indication that the team intends to trade him in the near future.
The Sharks have reportedly inquired about Panarin and, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, Panarin would be willing to sign a contract extension with San Jose. Chris Johnston had previously reported that Panarin would only waive his no-movement clause for a team willing to offer an extension, which limited potential suitors due to salary cap constraints.
While several teams, including the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, and Carolina Hurricanes, are reportedly in the mix, the Sharks are a dark horse contender. San Jose's General Manager Mike Grier and Rangers GM Chris Drury have a close relationship, potentially facilitating a deal. The Sharks also have Ryan Reaves on their roster, who is known to be close with Panarin.
Adding Panarin would be a significant move for the Sharks, signaling their belief that they are ready to contend for a playoff spot. Currently, the Sharks hold the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, with the Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken close behind. The Sharks' interest in Panarin reflects a desire to accelerate their rebuild, complementing their young core led by Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund. Elliotte Friedman suggested that Panarin would be a great fit playing alongside Celebrini.
However, acquiring Panarin would not be without risks. He carries a substantial $11.6 million cap hit and will be a free agent at the end of the season, meaning the Sharks would likely need to offer a lucrative extension to secure him. Some analysts believe the Sharks aren't Stanley Cup contenders and trading for Panarin wouldn't make them one. Others express concern that acquiring Panarin could hinder the team's defense development.
To acquire Panarin, the Rangers are reportedly seeking affordable, younger players who can immediately impact their roster, along with draft picks and prospects. It is unlikely that the Sharks would trade away key young players like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Yaroslav Askarov, or Michael Misa. Long-time Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro could be part of the return if he and the Sharks fail to agree to a contract extension. Some reports suggest that the Sharks would have to give up a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 fourth-round pick, and top prospect Michael Misa to acquire Panarin.
As the Sharks pursue Panarin, speculation arises regarding which former Oiler might be traded to create cap space or provide assets for the deal. Several Oilers could be trade candidates, including Ryan Hartman, Boone Jenner, Ryan O'Reilly, Vincent Trocheck and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs has also been mentioned as a possible target for the Oilers. Kiefer Sherwood, recently acquired by the Sharks, is a possible trade chip. Another potential trade candidate is Eeli Tolvanen.
The NHL trade deadline on March 6 is fast approaching, and the coming weeks promise to be filled with intense negotiations and potentially franchise-altering decisions.
