The New York Rangershave to consider a future that might not include Artemi Panarin. In order to even come close to replacing his production, they should scout the Winnipeg Jets, as Michigan-born forward Kyle Connor will be a free agent in 2026.![Kyle Connor]()
If the New York Rangers lose forward Artemi Panarin to free agency in 2026, the depth of talent available should give the team an ample shot at finding a replacement.
That replacement could come from the Winnipeg Jets, in former 17th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Kyle Connor.
Connor, like Nikolaj Ehlers, is another unsung, top-six forward who gets passed over in discussions of the top players in the NHL due to location. He's played for the small-market Jets his entire career and has found brief success in recent years, getting to play some time in the playoffs.
This year, he scored a total of 97 points (41-56) and flanked Mark Schiefele on his left this season on the top line.
Artemi Panarin's Replacement? What's the cost?
Should Artemi Panarin not be interested in what the Rangers have to offer, they should explore what signing Connor would cost.
He's in the final year of his 7-year, $50 million deal in Winnipeg, and the situation could turn out to be similar to how Ehlers left.
With Panarin's $11.5 million contract hit off the books (hypothetically) they could use this cap space to offer Connor a significant raise
His current cap is $7.142 million AAV and was signed before the 2019-20 season.
With his recent 2024-25 season being a career-high of 97 points, we're assuming he expects his raise to be substantial, though not enough to break the Rangers' bank.
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli gave us some insight into what GM Chris Drury could expect to pay:
«I would peg that next contract somewhere between $11 and $12 million AAV; obviously a huge priority for the Jets to get done.»
The price might be a bit much, but for elite forwards in the NHL, you pay for what you get. Connor could be a big help in putting the Rangers back in win-now status.
