Rangers general manager Chris Drury isn't afraid to trade an $81,499,999 superstar if the team hits a wall.

New York Rangers evaluate their season before making decisions NHL/artemi-panarin” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” data-is-sponsored=”false”>Artemi Panarin. Panarin is in the final year of his seven-year contract worth $81,499,999 and will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026 at age 34.

The Rangers are 3-4-1 so far and ranked 5th in the Metropolitan Division. Speaking of which, NHL insider Frank Seravalli said the team wants to see how they perform.

“I think the Rangers want to have a very clear indication of the quality of this team here and now before they make a decision on Artemi Panarin,” Seravalli said Tuesday, via B/R Open Ice.

General manager Chris Drury has already traded away key players like former captain Jacob Trouba, defenseman K'Andre Miller and forward Chris Kreider if they didn't help the team. So, trading Panarin won't be difficult for the Rangers general manager if the team isn't performing well.

“Do I think Chris Drury and company will be afraid to trade Artemi Panarin at the deadline if they don't go anywhere? No, I don't, not at all,” Seravalli said.

“You saw how aggressive Chris Drury was, that he moved… [players] he believes that this did not contribute to the overall success of this team and its future in terms of providing a Stanley Cup back in New York for the first time since 1994. If you don't help, you suffer. That's kind of how the Rangers see things…”

Panarin, 33, scored his second goal of the season in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He scored 57 seconds into the first period, but the offense struggled afterward. Seravalli said Panarin could still be part of the Rangers' Stanley Cup plans.

“I'm in the minority and I apparently think Artemi Panarin can be part of the puzzle for Rangers to solve,” Seravalli said.

Panarin has seven points in eight games so far this season.

Seravalli calls Rangers' Artemi Panarin 'a storyline to watch'

The New York Rangers are not yet close to making a trade decision. Seravalli said Panarin's situation will remain up in the air as the team wants to improve the overall game before making a decision.

“I'm optimistic about the Rangers and about Artemi Panarin,” Seravalli said. “That's going to be a storyline to follow… but I don't think they're close to making that decision yet.”

The Blueshirts didn't reach the playoffs last season, even though they won the Presidents' Trophy the year before. So for now the focus is on stabilizing the team and improving results.