Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
I'm hoping for a quick turnaround.I'd like to keep him too, but at 33 he's hitting the point where he can't be your #1 winger without an elite C. On top of that, how quickly is this turning around? Panarin is going to want to be on a contender, and not just a playoff team, but a legit cup contender.
You're not going to get better value than right now. If you wait for after this deadline, teams won't get two runs at it with him.
The only way you don't trade him is they plan on re-signing him. He'd have to take a discount from what he is currently making to have that work, and with those wingers you mentioned, and a few others on the way, you're better off making a move sooner than later.
You need young LHD and C options if you want to remake this roster for the future. Panarin can bring back pieces to do that.
I think Cuylle, Chytil, Berard, etc etc (you know the names) is a nice start as is, and all of them are in the NHL or getting around to NHL age. Rebuilds that go longer than three years go longer than ten.
I am open to trading Panarin depending on the return, but again, I come back to this idea of trading elite talent and then hoping the rebuild replaces elite talent.