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Barrage Of Groundbreaking Contract Extensions Puts Pressure On Rangers To Sign Artemi Panarin

 Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The 2026 free-agent class might not be as strong as originally anticipated, and that puts pressure on the New York Rangers to sign Artemi Panarin to a contract extension. 

Given all of the contracts the Rangers have dumped over the past year, on top of the fact that Artemi Panarin’s seven-year, 81.5 million deal is set to expire after the 2025-26 season, it seemed as if the Rangers were positioning themselves to be major players in the free-agent market this upcoming summer. 

The 2026 free-agent market was supposed to feature multiple superstar caliber players, including Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, and Kyle Connor. 

However, the landscape of the 2026 offseason has drastically changed. 

Over the past couple of weeks, McDavid signed a contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, Kaprizov signed a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild, Eichel signed a contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights, and Connor signed a contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets. 

All of these moves simply shift leverage in contract negotiations from the Rangers to Panarin.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Rangers wanted Panarin to take a team-friendly deal during the summer, but the two sides were unable to agree. 

“I understand, at some point in the off-season, the Rangers had that kind of conceptual conversation with Panarin: ‘Is there a way you could do for the Rangers what Kopitar did for the Kings?’” Friedman said. “Obviously, at this point and time, it hasn’t happened. I don’t know where that’s going to go, I don’t know if that’s going to be a possibility, but I do know the two sides had the conversation and, obviously, at this point, Panarin is unsigned.”

While the Blueshirts seem reluctant to commit to Panarin on a long-term basis, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is handcuffed in this situation. 

Essentially, all of the players the Rangers could have replaced Panarin with who were set to hit the open market are no longer available. 

Injuries Still Impacting J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin As They Both Look To Get Back To Regular FormInjuries Still Impacting J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin As They Both Look To Get Back To Regular FormBoth J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin had to shake off some rust during the New York Rangers’ season opener on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Despite already being 33 years old, Panarin continues to show he has a lot left in the tank, and as of last season, he was still playing at an all-star caliber level. 

Panarin is gaining an upper edge on the Rangers the longer these negotiations take, and with all of these groundbreaking contract extensions getting finalized. 

The Rangers are not in a rebuild by any means and remain committed to a win-now mentality, and Panarin is their main offensive catalyst. 

Without a feasible backup plan in place, it may be time for the Rangers to sign Panarin to a contract extension once and for all.

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Mets reliever Reed Garrett undergoes Tommy John surgery

As expected, Mets relieverReed Garretthas undergone Tommy John surgery.

The surgery was performed on Thursday, and is expected to keep Garrett out for the entire 2026 MLB season.

Garrett, 32, will be entering his first season of arbitration in 2026 and is under team control through 2028.

He is expected to earn roughly $1.4 million this coming season if he is offered arbitration.

Garrett's season ended on Sept. 18, when he was placed on the IL due to an elbow sprain.

He had a solid year in 2025, posting a 3.90 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while striking out 64 batters in 55.1 innings over 58 appearances -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.

Since joining the Mets, Garrett has a 4.10 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 129.2 innings in three seasons.