NHL
Artemi
Panarin Trade
Artemi Panarin was traded to the Kings just ahead of the roster freeze on Wednesday. Dennis Schneidler / Imagn Images
Kings get: Left winger Artemi Panarin.
Rangers get: Prospect Liam Greentree, conditional third-round pick.
Shayna Goldman: Panarin, even at 34, is still a needle-mover on the ice. His scoring rate is slightly down, both at five-on-five and on the power play, but it really isn’t for a lack of trying. He is still one of the premier puck-movers in the game, between his ability to transition up the ice and generate chances off the rush, his dangerous passing and his overall ability to hang onto the puck to extend zone time. And that’s still shone through all the chaos in New York this season.
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It’s the kind of dynamic offense the Kings absolutely crave, as a team that ranks in the bottom five in both five-on-five and power-play scoring rate. Panarin is still a true superstar who elevates their forward depth and helps knock everyone else on the depth chart into more fitting roles.
This move alone doesn’t make L.A. a true contender. But it should help solidify its playoff chances. And since the cost of acquisition was pretty light for a difference-maker of this caliber, with salary retention, the Kings should be able to get more done ahead of the actual deadline.
The wild card in all of this is Panarin’s age, because most players decline in their mid-30s. But a few things work in Panarin’s favor: 1. Less wear-and-tear at the NHL level so far; 2. The fact that his peak was such a high level, so his decline is still above average; and 3. Player comps such as Martin St. Louis, Henrik Zetterberg, Sidney Crosby and Mats Zuccarello point to a more graceful aging.
Panarin still projects to be worth his $11 million extension, so his age shouldn’t be a massive concern — it’s just a little more risky for an aging team such as the Kings.
On the flip side, since the Rangers had no intention to extend Panarin, trading him was the only way to ensure a return. The problem is that despite being one of the most valuable players on the trade board, it’s not that black and white. The team obviously lost leverage when it became clear that he was going to be traded. No-movement clauses, and even stringent no-trades complicate these situations even more, and often suppress the return — take the Panthers adding Brad Marchand last year, or Claude Giroux in 2023.
So from that lens, the return was always going to be underwhelming. Still, a conditional third-rounder, plus Greentree, who doesn’t have the dynamic potential this team’s prospect pool desperately needs, feels especially light, even with the context of the situation in mind.
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That brings the timing of this trade into focus, because the Rangers technically could have waited until the Olympic trade freeze lifted for a better deal instead of forcing something now. And it honestly brings the whole big picture into question, because without Panarin (or a difference-making return) can the Rangers really bring themselves to a better position in the near future without him, since this is a retool, not a rebuild yet? A depleted pipeline, dicey developmental record, and thin free 2026 free-agent class say otherwise.
Kings grade: B+Rangers grade: D
Corey Pronman: Panarin was one of the prizes of the trade deadline. An elite skill and brain winger who can dominate with the puck and inside the offensive zone, he provides a massive injection of offensive talent to the Kings. He’s not an elite skater or competitor and can frustrate at times, but the Kings have enough dependable players and they needed this level of skill.
Greentree is a big, skilled winger with good vision and finishing skills. He has legit offensive traits for the next level, but his skating and effort level are average and there are questions about how his game will translate. He projects as a middle-six winger with the ability to play on the power play, but his even-strength impact may be just OK.
Greentree is a good prospect, but this is obviously a reflection of several things: 1. The market value of an old, average-sized scoring winger isn’t that significant; and 2. Panarin handcuffed the Rangers’ trade partners, giving the Kings a premium piece without having to overpay on both the trade and extension.
Kings grade: A-Rangers grade: C
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