Panarin Declines Discount for New Rangers Contract, Says Friedman

The forward for the New York Rangers, **[Artemi Panarin](link)**, has declined to offer the team a discount on his new contract. According to Sportsnet insider **Elliotte Friedman**, the club was looking to Anze Kopitar’s deal with the Los Angeles Kings as a benchmark. In 2023, the Slovenian player signed a two-year extension with the Kings worth $7 million per season, down from his previous contract salary of $10 million annually.

«The team asked if Panarin would consider a deal similar to Kopitar’s. The response was no. It will be a significant amount,» Friedman reported for Sportsnet.

The 33-year-old forward’s current contract with the Rangers runs until June 30, 2026, carrying a cap hit of $11.64 million.