'Making Some Hard Decisions': Artemi Panarin's Future in New York in Jeopardy

Russian star forward Artemi Panarin decided to spurn the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency in 2019 and instead signed with the New York Rangers, citing his desire to play in a big city.

As Manhattan is one of the biggest cities in North America, it seemed like a perfect fit for him. And Panarin has continued to show he's one of the best players in the NHL with several years of top notch production.

But he and the Rangers have never advanced past the ECF, and missed the playoffs last season after having won the President's Trophy in the previous year.

He's coming into the last year of the 7 year deal he signed in 2019, and right now, his future in New York isn't guaranteed per a new report from NHL analyst Frank Seravalli.

If Panarin leaves the Rangers, does this mean that they'd be officially ready for a rebuild?

With a potentially hard decision in the near future on Panarin, the Rangers have already made some tough choices this summer.

They fired coach Peter Laviolette only a year after he led them to the President's Trophy as the best regular season team and an appearance in the ECF; they also traded Chris Kreider, the longest tenured member of the team, to the Anaheim Ducks.

That trade came months after they traded former captain Jacob Trouba to the Ducks as well.

They also traded defenseman K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes.