Who’s still here?
After last week’s letter from Chris Drury to fans that announced a “retooling,” I wouldn’t blame you if you’ve cried uncle on seeking a betting edge in any markets related to the Rangers.
That marked the second letter in eight years from Rangers management that declared changes to the organization’s direction.
The Rangers have been palpably not galvanized, going 1-2 since the notice with back-to-back flat displays to kick off their West Coast road trip.
They have now lost 10 of their last 12 games. Bad bounces, lousy effort — chalk each loss up to whatever you will. Letter or not, the whole season has been plagued with inconsistency, but within this dumpster fire, some narratives hold some upside.
Among the biggest pending departures is Artemi Panarin, who was informed by Drury that he will not be receiving a contract extension ahead of his seven-year, $81.5 million deal expiring this summer.
Since Panarin has a no-movement clause in his contract, Drury is “prepared to work” with Panarin’s agent in sending him anywhere he desires.
For what it’s worth, Panarin has notched five points and three goals in those three games.
He’s on an open tryout for teams with Stanley Cup goals this season, and at 34, seeking a deal with term only amplifies the pressure to produce in his waning days as a Blueshirt.
Friday night’s puck drop against the Sharks offers him a ripe opportunity to boost his stock.
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San Jose allows over 30 shots on goal per game, which is 30th overall, while its goaltending tandem of Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic has stopped only 88.5 percent of those shots, ranking 22nd overall.
The Sharks are punching above their weight class as they sit tied for the last playoff spot in the West.
They’ve experienced some increased team cohesion around the growth of young star Macklin Celebrini, but this is still a young team that is without an identity.
Though Panarin has only struck on the power play twice, the Sharks kill penalties at a 77 percent rate, 25th in the NHL.
Poor overall defense has continued to make the Sharks bite themselves in all situations.
Their defenseman get pulled wide, and their forwards don’t collapse fast enough, which only benefits players who convert when they find seams; Panarin is scoring on a 12.4 percent clip off a team-leading 153 shots.
THE PLAY: Artemi Panarin Anytime Goal Scorer (+170, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
