NY Rangers Have Major Hole To Overcome Trading Top Winger

The NHL winger rankings features a former New York Rangers star.

Jan 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) and center Mika Zibanejad (93) at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It wasn’t very long ago that the New York Rangers were the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference, contending for the right to play in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The team lost to the Florida Panthers in six games in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals after a historic regular season. Franchise records for wins, with 55, and points, with 114, were recorded, as they won the Presidents’ Trophy.

Just two years later, and so many pieces from that team are no longer with the franchise. Vincent Trocheck was the latest, being traded to the Utah Mammoth this summer for defenseman Sean Durzi, center prospect Cole Beaudoin and a 2027 third-round pick.

Before him, it was another star on the move ahead of the NHL trade deadline: Artemi Panarin. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick that turned into Tomas Chrenko, a 2028 fourth-round pick and prospect Liam Greentree.

Artemi Panarin will be tough for Rangers to replace

Apr 21, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin (10) in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

That trade created a huge void in the team’s lineup down the stretch of the 2025-26 campaign and moving forward. The addition of Pavel Dorofeyev will certainly help soften the blow from a goal-scoring perspective, but he isn’t a top-20 winger in the NHL like Panarin is, leaving some massive shoes to fill.

Over at NHL.com, they released their rankings for the top 20 wingers in the league right now. Despite turning 35 years old on Oct. 20, Panarin is still viewed as one of the best wings in the NHL, coming in at No. 12 on the list.

He has shown no signs of slowing down, recording 84 points last season between New York and the Kings, scoring 28 goals and handing out 56 assists. Entering his 12th season in the league, he remains one of the best playmaking wingers in the NHL.

Panarin has recorded at least 41 assists in every season of his career. That 11-year streak makes him the third European player to have a streak of at least 11 seasons with 40+ assists, joining Jaromir Jagr, who did it 12 consecutive campaigns from 1995-96 through 2007-08, and Peter Stastny, who did it from 1980-81 through 1990-91.

Artemi Panarin's stellar play continued with the @LAKings last season.

The Breadman is #⃣1⃣2⃣ on NHL Network's Top 20 Wings Right Now list! 🍞

📺: #NHLTopPlayers on NHL Network pic.twitter.com/QtueclwGee

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) August 2, 2026

Since joining the league, Panarin has the fifth-most points recorded with 954. Most of his damage has come by helping his teammates, with his 624 assists ranking fourth in the NHL over that time.

Replacing that kind of production is no easy feat. It is going to take a complete team effort, because there isn’t a singular player who is going to be able to replicate the impact that Panarin had on the ice.

The Rangers are certainly hoping some of their young players, whether it is Gabe Perreault or Alexis Lafreniere, can elevate their game to the next level to help compensate for Panarin being traded.