The Kings swung for Artemi Panarin on February 4, 2026, and the move paid off quickly. Los Angeles landed the winger from the New York Rangers in exchange for Liam Greentree, a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick, and a conditional 2028 fourth-round draft pick, bringing in a player who had already piled up 57 points in 52 games before the deal.
Panarin had to wait until after the Olympics to make his debut in Los Angeles, but he wasted little time making an impression. In his first game as a King, he picked up two assists.
From there, he became a steady source of offense over 26 regular-season games, finishing with 9 goals, 18 assists, and 27 points. That production left him at a point-per-game pace with the Kings.
He kept rolling into the playoffs, too. In four postseason games, Panarin led the Kings with 2 goals and finished with 3 points. Los Angeles still needs more scoring help overall, but Panarin gave the lineup a real lift down the stretch and into the 2026-27 outlook.
There’s also reason for Kings fans to watch what comes next with Adrian Kempe alongside Panarin. The two have only a small sample size together, but both are strong offensive players who could give the Kings’ attack a major boost. The coaching connection matters as well: Peter Laviolette is now in Los Angeles, reuniting with Panarin after their time together in New York, where Panarin hit a career high with 120 points under Laviolette.
Taken as a whole, the trade looks like a clear win for the Kings. They gave up relatively little, and Panarin’s offense helped them find more scoring late in the season. Looking ahead, he has a real chance to lead the team in points and push the Kings’ offense forward from where it stood last year.
In Other News...
Former Kings Blueliner Suddenly Sits At Center Of Troubling Trade Buzz
A former Kings blueliner has landed in the middle of a fresh round of Rangers trade chatter, and it is the kind of noise front offices usually try to quiet before it grows legs. Vladislav Gavrikov, who signed a long-term deal after his run in Los Angeles, is now being mentioned in the same breath as one of New Yorks biggest young forwards, with salary-cap consequences hanging over any possible move.
For Kings fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a familiar name can become part of a bigger roster puzzle somewhere else. Gavrikovs contract alone is substantial, and paired with Alexis Lafrenires, any serious shift would force the Rangers to make major decisions about direction and payroll, which is why this story feels like one to watch as the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kings Blueliner May Already Regret His New York Future
Vladislav Gavrikovs first year in New York has already been complicated by the kind of roster churn that can change a players view of a long-term commitment. The former Kings blueliner signed with the Rangers last offseason expecting stability, but several notable teammates have moved on since then, leaving the picture around him looking different than the one he bought into.
For now, there is nothing official from Gavrikov or the Rangers about any change in plans, and that matters because this is still only a rumor-driven story. Even so, the speculation is worth watching from a Kings perspective, because a player with his track record and contract status does not usually become part of the conversation unless there is real unease somewhere in the background. [Read more 🡒]