Artemi Panarin adds massive wrinkle to trade rumors.

The New York Rangers have put themselves on a path to trading star forward Artemi Panarin, but it sounds like things may be a lot more complicated than the Rangers may have initially expected. Panarin is of course on an expiring contract and is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, but it sounds like Panarin may be looking to kill two birds with one stone when it comes to figuring out where his future in the National Hockey League will be.

Recently, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that Panarin isn't interested in picking up his life in New York and moving twice in the next few months, stating instead that Panarin will look to combine both the trade and free agency into a single move.

"The agent is driving is a lot of this bus," revealed Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast. "It's been made pretty clear that he wants this to happen with an extension, he doesn't wanna go twice he only wants to go once."

That means that any team looking to acquire Panarin in a trade will not only need to give up valuable assets to the Rangers, but will also be required to make a serious financial commitment to the player moving forward. According to Friedman, the magic number here is $50 million.

"He's gonna try to hit a contract home run even though he is 34 years old," said Friedman. "The number I was hearing, and a few teams back me on this, was $50 million."

According to Friedman teams looking to sign Panarin will have a lot of flexibility in how they pay out that $50 million, although that is a hefty price tag for a player as old as Panarin currently is.

Friedman shed some light on the teams that might be interested in making a trade of this nature but began by naming both the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche as team's who are interested but can't work out an extension of this nature.

"Colorado, interest I believe, can't do it as an extension," confirmed Friedman.

Friedman did however list a number of teams that he does believe could make a deal work, although admitted that each of the teams listed here had their own reservations about a potential trade.

"I've heard some interesting things about the Kings," said Friedman. "Seattle has been looking for a scorer forever... Washington I've heard they are only doing this with an extension... Carolina I always consider them a player in these kinds of things... Florida I think he really wants to go there... Detroit I definitely think there is interest."

Friedman listed off several additional teams including the Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders and even the Philadelphia Flyers, which suggests that Panarin may very well get what he wants as far as a new contract is concerned.

Would you pay a 34 year old Artemi Panarin $50 million to play for your team? And if so how many years would the contract have to be to make it worth your while? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.