And now a massive shake-up in Rangers town: Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider & Mika Zibanejad on the trade block?

The New York Rangers are set to embark on a dramatic overhaul of their roster come summer. Reports have emerged that the management is reviewing the possibility of trading three of their most prominent superstars-ArtemiPanarin, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad. Presently, since the Rangers are not so successful in their bid for a playoff place, the front office is said to be ready to make bold moves for resetting the franchise. GM Chris Drury has already pulled off quite a few big deals this season so one can only assume that there will be more moves to come. If the rumored trade discussions pick up steam, it could mean the end of some eras for the biggest stars within the Rangers organization.

On the other front, the Rangers kept on trading: Jacob Trouba, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko left the franchise before the deadline. The playoff conjuring, however, remains hazy, as it is a mere whisker away from the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

What is becoming clearer is now the office is mulling an even bigger shake-up. Panarin is a top trade asset and will enter the last year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract; however, he has a no-trade clause. Kreider is another name said on the move, with two years left on his five-year, $45.5 million deal. Zibanejad's long-term contract, which runs through 2029-30 at $8.5 million per season, is another hurdle toward a potential deal because, as he has a full no-move clause, the feasibility of a trade might reduce.
For Drury, those are moves to free financial capital and reconfiguring the roster for success over the long haul. The misery currently wreaking havoc on the Rangers suggests their "core" is perhaps unable to wrestle down a title, thus requiring drastic measures.
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Dismantling a team's core is always a big gamble, but it could be the right thing for the Rangers for their long-term success. If they miss the playoffs this season, an uproar for a revamping of the roster will only intensify. An exodus with stars Panarin, Kreider, or Zibanejad could stretch the salary cap to make room for incoming talent and a new idea of competitiveness.
But with trade clauses in play, it won't be so simple to let really good players go. In any case, one thing is certain: the Rangers are set for what will be a transformational offseason.