Montreal Canadiens: Free agency makes more sense for Artemi Panarin

Here is where we tie the Montreal Canadiens back into this. The Panarin trade should go beyond the standard ‘pick-player-prospect’ model. Teams who are legitimately going for a Stanley Cup will be more willing to sell the farm to acquire a player like Panarin, and as we’ve discussed before, the Habs are far from being that sure.

Panarin is a bonafide rental. You have him on your team for four or five months, and he hits the open market with no guarantee he sticks around. Imagine the Habs give up a first, second, Nick Suzuki and Cale Fleury, have a decent run in the playoffs and watch Panarin walk off to sign an eight-year deal with the New York Rangers.

Would those four or five months be worth it? If the Habs managed to win a Stanley Cup sure and although anything can happen in the playoffs, there’s a concern.

Don’t get me wrong I’m all for the Montreal Canadiens acquiring Artemi Panarin. Not too many wingers in this league can drive play from the wing, and that’s been his playing style since entering the NHL. Panarin’s creativity and raw skill are off the charts as he can set up others perfectly but has a perfect shot to finish plays on his own.

Him playing on a line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Max Domi would be ridiculous and add a boatload of firepower to the Habs’ top six. That said, the Montreal Canadiens can wait.

Free Agent Frenzy is surely going to drive up the asking price on Panarin’s future deal. Guessing now, he’s likely looking for something with an eight or even nine bringing him within the realm of Nikita Kucherov in Tampa Bay.

The Montreal Canadiens have the cap space to pull that off, but that’ll take further discussion between Bergevin and the rest of the management group. Either way, the Habs aren’t in a position to give up a number of key prospects for a player who can walk away for nothing.

Keep tabs on Panarin and where he ends up. Once the season is over, get the notes and platforms ready to make a bid. There’s no garantee he even entertains an offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it’s better then trying to put together a package for him.