4 Best Landing Spots for Artemi Panarin

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Artemi Panarin is arguably the most valuable name on the free agency market this year. Organizations around the NHL are already in heavy pursuit of Panarin, looking to sign the potential franchise forward to a massive deal. Although any team would be lucky to land the "Bread Man", these four teams make the most sense to land the 27 year-old Russian.

4. Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche v Columbus Blue Jackets / Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

The Colorado Avalanche are stacked with plenty of young wingers, but their scoring depth is lacking beyond their first line. With a massive amount of cap space, the Avs could seriously push for Panarin and add another top-20 scorer to thrive alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen. If Joe Sakic can make Panarin and appealing offer, that would likely feature a ton of money, we could see the "Bread Man" in Denver next season.

3. Los Angeles Kings

Columbus Blue Jackets v Los Angeles Kings / Harry How/Getty Images

The 2018-2019 campaign was a massively disappointing one for the Los Angeles Kings. After finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference and second-to-last in the league, the Kings are looking to turn around the team heading into next season. They're also in desperate need of improvement on the wing, but would have to dump some contracts in order to land Panarin. The fact he's said that he'd love to play in Los Angeles definitely boosts the Kings' chances at landing the star forward.

2. New York Rangers

Columbus Blue Jackets v New York Rangers / Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Rangers proved that they were serious about their 2019 offseason when they acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Jets. However, with needs to fulfill on the offensive end, New York is far from done. With cap space of well over $17 million, the Rangers could throw plenty of money at Panarin. The “Bread Man” in the Big Apple would change the face of the Rangers and would make them a real threat out of the Metropolitan Division. He even visited Madison Square Garden on Thursday, adding some fuel to the fire.

1. Florida Panthers

Columbus Blue Jackes v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Two / Mike Carlson/Getty Images

The Florida Panthers are the heavy favorites to land Panarin. They've been rumored to have met not just with Panarin, but his Blue Jackets teammate Sergei Bobrovsky as well. With a lack of depth at the winger position and the retirement of goaltender Roberto Luongo, the Panthers could certainly use both Columbus stars. If they can land one or the other, or possibly even both, they will be heavily favored to compete for the Eastern Conference title.