Panarin reportedly has new preferred team, no longer the Florida Panthers

The Russian superstar has officially entered the 'asset protection' phase of his career in Manhattan. Chris Drury is working the phones while his best player sits in the press box to make sure nothing breaks before a trade.

The Blueshirts are currently a disaster. They're sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference and the firesale is officially on. Frank Seravalli mentioned on Canucks Central that the vibes in that dressing room are non-existent. Players know the rebuild is coming.

Panarin hasn't been the problem on the ice. He's put up 19 goals and 38 assists in 52 games this season. That's elite production for a guy playing on a team that can't win a game to save their lives. But his $11.6 million cap hit is a mountain of money that the Rangers need off the books.

He holds all the cards with a full no-move clause. If he says he only goes to Texas, Drury has to make it work. Panarin isn't looking to be a rental for a playoff run either. He wants a massive extension—roughly $50 million over four years.

The Stars are a perfect fit for a dynamo like Panarin. They've got depth, but they lack that game-breaking motor in the top six. Adding him to a roster that already has Mikko Rantanen would be unfair.

But the math is getting ugly in Dallas. They still haven't fixed the Jason Robertson contract situation. Adding another $11+ million ticket makes the cap almost impossible to manage if they were to try to extend him. Jim Nill is a patient GM, but the window for this core won't stay open forever.

The NHL trade freeze hits on February 4th. That means the clock is screaming at both front offices to find a middle ground. Panarin won't lace them up again for New York before the Olympic break.

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