The Artemi Panarin sweepstakes are officially over-and the Colorado Avalanche are out of the picture. Despite some early rumblings that Colorado might be in the mix for the star winger, Panarin is headed west, but not to Denver. Instead, he’s landed with the Los Angeles Kings in a move that makes a lot more sense once you dig into the details.
Panarin didn’t just get traded to L.A.-he committed to staying there. The veteran forward quickly inked a two-year extension worth $11 million annually, locking him in through the 2027-28 season.
That’s a significant commitment from both sides, and it tells you everything you need to know about how this deal came together. According to reports, the Kings were the only team Panarin was willing to waive his no-movement clause for.
That clause gave him full control over his destination, and he made it clear: Los Angeles or nowhere.
That right there explains why the Avalanche were never really in the running. Sure, there was interest-how could there not be?
Panarin is still one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league. But if a player isn’t willing to sign an extension, and especially if he’s not open to a move in the first place, there’s only so much a front office can do.
And even if Panarin had been open to Colorado, the fit would’ve been complicated. The Avs are in a win-now window, no doubt, but they’ve also been cautious about how they build around their core.
Committing big money to a player in his mid-30s comes with obvious risks. Will he still be elite two years from now?
Will he mesh with the system? If not, you’re stuck with a massive cap hit and limited flexibility.
That’s a tough spot for any contending team, especially one without a deep prospect pool or a surplus of draft picks to use as trade chips.
Let’s not forget: Colorado already dipped into the veteran market this past offseason, signing defenseman Brent Burns to a one-year, $1 million deal. That was a calculated, low-risk move to bolster the blue line. Adding another aging star with a much bigger price tag would’ve been a very different kind of gamble.
So while the idea of Panarin in burgundy and blue might’ve been fun to imagine, it just wasn’t realistic. The Kings got their guy, and the Avalanche stayed true to their blueprint-building around their core, staying flexible, and keeping their eyes on the long-term picture even in the midst of a Stanley Cup push.
Could Colorado still make a move before the deadline? Absolutely.
But don’t expect anything flashy. This is a team that knows what it needs-and what it doesn’t.