Los Angeles Kings Land Artemi Panarin In Blockbuster NHL Trade

The NHL landscape shifted dramatically on February 4, 2026, as the Los Angeles Kings pulled off one of the most significant trades in recent memory, acquiring star winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers. The deal, finalized just ahead of the league’s Olympic roster freeze, sent shockwaves through both conferences and signaled a bold new direction for the Kings as they chase a long-awaited playoff breakthrough.

Panarin’s move to Los Angeles was anything but routine. The 34-year-old Russian, who had been the heart and soul of the Rangers’ offense for six seasons, exercised his full no-movement clause to ensure the Kings were his exclusive destination. According to insider Frank Seravalli, "Los Angeles was the only option Panarin's camp presented," making negotiations a one-way street. The Rangers, recognizing Panarin’s wishes and the team’s shifting priorities, accepted a package that included promising prospect Liam Greentree, a conditional third-round pick in 2026, and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2028. If the Kings win a playoff series this spring, that third-rounder will escalate to a second-round selection. Should Los Angeles advance to the conference final, New York will pocket the additional fourth-rounder.

What did the Kings get in return for this hefty price? A proven offensive force with a track record of elevating every team he joins. Panarin has tallied 321 goals and 927 points in 804 career NHL games, playing previously with the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Rangers. This season alone, he racked up 19 goals and a Rangers-high 57 points in 52 games before being held out of the lineup since January 28 for roster-related reasons. His absence, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Emily Kaplan, stemmed from ongoing trade discussions once it became clear the Rangers would not offer him a contract extension.

The contract situation was a turning point. Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury, in a candid letter to fans, admitted the team was entering a "retool" phase. He met with Panarin and informed him directly that no extension would be forthcoming. Panarin, reflecting on the meeting, said, "It’s hard to say how I feel. I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that." The Rangers’ decision was echoed by head coach Mike Sullivan, who explained, "It boils down to, I think, big-picture decision making. A lot of it has to do with where the group is at and where the group can go in the short term but also in the long term."

With the trade complete, Panarin wasted no time in cementing his future in Los Angeles. He inked a two-year extension with the Kings at an $11 million average annual value, a clear vote of confidence from both sides. The Rangers, meanwhile, agreed to retain 50% of Panarin’s remaining $11.6 million cap hit for the rest of the season, easing the financial burden on the Kings and making the acquisition possible under the salary cap.

The Kings’ need for offense could not be more urgent. Despite boasting one of the league’s stingiest defenses—third in goals against per game at 2.72—their offense has lagged behind, ranking 28th in goals per game (2.57) and struggling mightily on the power play with a 15.6% success rate. Before Panarin’s arrival, Adrian Kempe led the team with 20 goals and 45 points in 54 games, while other key forwards like Quinton Byfield had cooled off after promising campaigns. The hope in Los Angeles is that Panarin’s elite playmaking and scoring ability will spark the kind of offensive surge needed to finally escape the first round of the playoffs—a feat the Kings haven’t managed since their 2014 Stanley Cup triumph.

General manager Ken Holland, in his first year at the Kings’ helm after a successful tenure in Edmonton, made it clear that the time for bold moves is now. The Kings are currently locked in a fierce battle for a playoff spot, sitting just one point out of the second wild-card position in the Western Conference. With captain Anze Kopitar set to retire after this season and franchise stalwart Drew Doughty nearing the twilight of his career, the window for another championship run is narrowing. Holland’s decision to part with a top prospect and valuable picks underscores the urgency—and the belief that Panarin can make all the difference.

Liam Greentree, the centerpiece of the Rangers’ return, is no slouch himself. Drafted 26th overall by the Kings in 2024, the 6-foot-3 winger has notched 23 goals and 45 points in just 34 games for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires this season. He also represented Canada at the World Juniors in January, further raising his stock as a potential impact player at the NHL level. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranks Greentree as a promising middle-six forward, projecting him as a key piece in the Rangers’ ongoing retool.

Panarin’s legacy in New York is secure. He ranks ninth in franchise history with 607 points in 482 games and holds the Rangers’ record for points per game (1.26). His 2023-24 campaign, featuring 49 goals and 120 points, was one of the greatest individual seasons in Rangers history—second only to Jaromír Jágr’s 123-point effort in 2005-06. Panarin also delivered in the postseason, scoring overtime winners and helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference final twice in the last four years, even if his playoff production occasionally dipped.

Of course, Panarin’s time in New York was not without controversy. In 2024, he and Madison Square Garden Sports settled financial claims with a Rangers employee who accused Panarin of sexual assault, as reported by The Athletic’s Katie Strang. Panarin declined to comment on the matter. Earlier, in 2021, he took a personal leave after a Russian newspaper alleged involvement in a physical altercation, which the Rangers denounced as politically motivated intimidation.

For the Kings, the focus now shifts to integrating Panarin into a lineup hungry for offensive firepower. Kings winger Kevin Fiala captured the mood best: "The main goal is to win the Stanley Cup and if your GM thinks that adding somebody helps, it’s always positive. You just take it. You’ve got to accept it and do the best out of it." Coach Jim Hiller, whose own future may hinge on the team’s playoff fortunes, faces the challenge of finding the right linemates for Panarin, both at even strength and on a sputtering power play.

Will Panarin’s arrival finally help Los Angeles break its first-round curse and ignite a deep playoff run? With the Western Conference race tighter than ever, nothing is guaranteed. But one thing’s for sure: the Kings have signaled their intent, and the rest of the league is on notice.