Two playoff-hungry teams circle a battle-tested Rangers veteran, whispers from the shadows say, ready to pounce the moment the Olympic freeze lifts and deals thaw. Front offices know the drill - with the deadline looming, this guy's steady hand could tip a tight race, especially after New York's recent splash sending Panarin west. Rangers GM Chris Drury holds the cards, but expect those phones to light up hot once February 22 passes, as contenders refuse to sit idle.

San Jose shakes up the rumor mill by eyeing Artemi Panarin amid swirling trade talks, betting big on playoff dreams that few saw coming this deep into the season. GMs in the Bay Area rarely swing for the fences like this, but with cap space and ambition colliding, they're whispering sweet nothings to his camp. Rangers hold the cards, yet Sharks' sudden surge tests whether New York's star winger entertains a Bay Area reboot.

Vladislav Gavrikov pulls strings to guide Artemi Panarin straight to Los Angeles, reshaping the Kings' lineup in a blockbuster twist. The defenseman's influence tips the scales on a deal that's got Pacific Division rivals scrambling. As LA builds for a Cup run, this reunion underscores how old ties forge new powerhouses.

The Kings face a nightmare scenario after Kevin Fiala's season-ending leg injury at the Olympics leaves a gaping hole in their top-six scoring. General manager Ken Holland, fresh off landing Artemi Panarin, now eyes a blockbuster replacement with over $15 million in cap space burning a hole in his pocket. Whispers from Nashville point to a certain $32 million forward as the perfect fit, but prying him loose means convincing a Predators GM who's dug in his heels so far.

Rangers fans brace for the debut of Liam Greentree, the prized OHL prospect headlining the return in the Artemi Panarin blockbuster to the Kings. Greentree's scorching pace for 90 points this season has the Garden faithful dreaming of the next big thing amid Chris Drury's retool. With the Olympic roster freeze lifting soon, New York eyes accelerating his path to the NHL lineup as they pivot from Panarin's era.

The Rangers dive deeper into retool mode after shipping out Panarin and Soucy, and now front offices league-wide circle Vincent Trocheck as the next big chip on Chris Drury's table. This gritty center, fresh off a playoff tear with 20 points in 18 games during their East Final run, brings top-six scoring, penalty-killing chops, and faceoff mastery that contenders crave at his $5.625 million cap hit.