Media Bytes: Panarin, Soucy, Knives Out For Miller

Welcome back to Media Bytes, a weekly column from Blueshirt Banter. Every Sunday, we’ll help you start the week right with a quick catch-up on the latest stories and developments around the New York Rangers and the broader NHL media landscape.

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Panarin Sweeps Taking Shape

1. On the Monday morning edition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman provided something of an update on the Artemi Panarin situation, telling listeners that he believes numerous teams "are doing their due diligence on him, on and off the ice."

According to Friedman, it is believed that Panarin's preference is to accept a trade to a team with an extension in place, but that he remains open to select rental opportunities as well.

Friedman said he doesn't know who the leading candidate team is at this time but did draw familiar connections to teams Panarin has been linked to for weeks now: the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, and Minnesota Wild. He also reiterated his Saturday Headlines report that the Rangers are seeking a Brock Nelson-like return for the Russian superstar. As a reminder: Nelson was traded from the New York Islanders to the Colorado Avalanche in March 2025 for defenseman Oliver Kylington, forward prospect Calum Ritchie—one of the Avalanche's better prospects at the time—a conditional 2026 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 third-round pick.

"One of the teamss I've heard he might be interested in as a rental is Dallas," Friedman said. "The thing about Dallas is, the ability to do anything with term probably depends on their decision with Jason Robertson. Right now, until they sort out what happens long-term with Robertson, we'll see if they're a long-term player for anything."

Anaheim was an "obvious connection," according to Friedman, who drew a clear link to Panarin and his former head coach, Joel Quenneville. "Anaheim—they can could easily do a Nelson-type deal with the Rangers," he said.

"Washington, I think, could do that, too," Friedman continued. "[but] I've heard that Washington prefers it with an extension."

None of this is much of an update more than what's already been reported over the last two weeks. But Friedman closed the segment by including a potential wild card team in the Utah Mammoth. "One team that people did say to me that wants to do something to make the playoffs is Utah," he said. "I have a lot of people saying watch Utah. I don't know if that necessarily means Panarin, but Utah are in the first wild card."

2. Chris Johnston also chimed in with a mild Panarin update on The Chris Johnston Show, telling listeners he believes "all eyes are still on New York."

"That's a team that's said it's intentions. They've told everyone what they're going to do and have a variety of different players that they can look to move," Johnston said. "With Panarin, I don't know that they've gotten down to the 'here's where I would go' [conversation], but I think it's natural with the [Olympic] break that there's time to have discussions.

"We'll see if there's a push here to maybe see a couple more trades happen," he continued. "It's getting late early with very few games being played in February."