Artemi Panarin has reportedly declined an early contract offer from the New York Rangers, setting up what could become one of the NHL’s most intriguing storylines heading toward the 2026 free agency period. According to Elliotte Friedman on “The FAN Hockey Show” on Wednesday, the Rangers approached Panarin with a proposal modeled after Anze Kopitar’s recent deal in Los Angeles — shorter term and at a reduced cap hit — but the 33-year-old winger wasn’t interested. “They went to him and said, would you be willing to take a Kopitar kind of deal, and the answer was no,” Friedman said, adding that Panarin’s camp, led by agent Paul Theofanous, is known for “swinging for home runs.” Panarin’s decision immediately raises questions about his future in New York. Entering the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract ($11.64 million AAV), he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2026. He’s one of the big-ticket names that fans are looking at as others like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kap
