The Los Angeles Kings made a significant move on Wednesday by acquiring left winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick and prospect Liam Greentree. Following the trade, the Kings signed Panarin to a two-year deal worth $22 million, securing his services in Los Angeles until the 2027-28 season.
This trade wraps up weeks of uncertainty surrounding Panarin, who had not appeared in a game since January 26. The Rangers had been holding onto him, optimistic about trading their top scorer for the past seven seasons, even though he leads New York with 57 points in 52 games this season.
The acquisition of Panarin is a big boost for the Kings, who are aiming for their fifth consecutive playoff appearance despite struggles on offense, ranking near the bottom of the NHL for goals scored and power-play success. Only Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala have tallied at least 13 goals or 30 points this season. Los Angeles has traditionally focused on defensive play, a system maintained even after four first-round playoff exits to Edmonton. However, under new general manager Ken Holland, the team is now adding some offensive firepower to balance their play and enhance their chances of competing for a championship.
Over the past five seasons, Panarin has ranked as the seventh-highest scorer in the NHL, amassing 156 goals and 298 assists with the Rangers. He has consistently been a goal-scoring threat, reaching at least 25 goals in eight of his first ten seasons, including a peak of 49 goals with 120 points two seasons ago.
This trade marks a major move in what Rangers GM Chris Drury calls a reorganization rather than a rebuild, focusing on acquiring young assets, draft picks, and cap space. The no-trade clause in Panarin’s contract gave him control over his destination, and several teams showed interest before he chose Los Angeles.
The Rangers kept half of Panarin’s $11.6 million salary cap hit while acquiring Liam Greentree, a 20-year-old forward from the Windsor Spitfires, who was selected late in the first round of the 2024 draft. If the Kings advance past the first playoff round, the draft pick becomes a second-round selection; if they reach the Western Conference Finals, the Rangers will also receive a fourth-round pick in 2028.
This deal was finalized less than an hour before the NHL’s Olympic trade freeze and marks the departure of one of the premier offensive players off the market ahead of the March 6 deadline. Panarin emerges as the third key player from the Rangers’ recent roster, which has seen significant dismantling following their 2024 Eastern Conference Finals run, including the trades of captain Jacob Trouba and long-time forward Chris Kreider to Anaheim. Both Trouba and Kreider are thriving with their new team, vying for Anaheim’s first playoff spot since 2018. The Rangers have also traded depth defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders.
Veteran center Vincent Trocheck remains with the Rangers on a three-year deal at a cap hit of $5.625 million, and could potentially earn more than Panarin if trades proceed.
Fan Take: This blockbuster trade signals a bold shift for both teams, and hockey fans should be excited to see how Panarin’s offensive prowess energizes the Kings’ playoff push. It also highlights the evolving landscape of the NHL, where strategic rebuilds and aggressive wheeling-and-dealing are transforming traditional team approaches andraising expectations for an unpredictable postseason.
