How real is the link between Panarin and the Lightning?

There’s growing intrigue to see if one of the best teams in the NHL is going to make a big swing on an available scoring threat.

While there have been rumors that the New York Rangers were shopping forward Artemi Panarin, the discussions ramped up once the team started scratching him for roster management reasons last week. Some are wondering whether the Blueshirts will move the Russian sniper before the roster freeze on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

One team that is starting to get linked to Panarin is the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that has played well above expectations this year, despite having key players out due to injury. While the Lightning are competing for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, they certainly could use some added offense in a player like Panarin to solidify themselves as Stanley Cup contenders.

On Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, David Pagnotta joined Johnny Lazarus and Carter Hutton to discuss the truth of Tampa’s interest in Panarin.

David Pagnotta: I think they’ve explored it. I talked to [GM Julien BriseBois before] the Stadium Series. He mentioned something that I think piqued a lot of interest in others, where he wants to add, but if he’s going to add, it’s got to be a piece that benefits this team now and beyond. They’re not just exclusively in the rental market. Of course, with Panarin and all the attention that has been brought over to him in the last 48 hours with Tampa, that extension is what everyone’s going, ‘Well, wait a second, maybe you can, does that mean that you’re trying to extend?’

You can’t count out the Tampa Bay Lightning in anything. … [BriseBois] doesn’t have a ton of cap space. So, he’s going to have to get creative. We know that the Rangers are going to retain on Panarin’s deal when it does happen. … I don’t know if I put them in the front-runner category. There is obvious interest, and there have been discussions. So we’ll obviously we’ll see what happens here in the next few hours. I think Carolina is still in that mix. I think LA is still in that mix. … I reported this earlier in the week, that if it just goes the rental route, I think you would consider the Dallas, Colorado, Edmontons, but I do think it’s more heavily leaning towards an extension.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…