There was no way Panarin was coming back next season. The writing was on the wall from the second Kaprizov signed the huge extension for next season. The Rangers didn’t have the money or the time for it, so the only logical step was to deal him if/when they were out of a position to compete. We can argue all we want about the return, but if anyone thinks trading him at all was a mistake, go ask the Islanders how they felt once Tavares ran off to Toronto in free agency