Artemi Panarin is officially a Los Angeles King, and if there was any doubt about how badly he wanted this move, he erased it with a grin and a sharp one-liner at his introductory press conference.
“I’d probably go back to Russia if LA didn’t give me anything,” he joked, flashing the kind of dry humor that’s made him a fan favorite throughout his career.
But behind the laugh was a clear message: this wasn’t just another transaction. Panarin wanted this team, this city, and this opportunity. He made that known not only to the media, but to the Kings themselves-turning down more lucrative offers, including one from the Seattle Kraken, to sign a two-year, $22 million extension in Los Angeles.
“I just want to play for these guys, for that organization,” he said. “Other teams were on the list, obviously, too, but I actually didn’t really want to go anywhere else.”
It’s rare to hear a player speak so openly about his motivations, but Panarin has never been one to play the media game. He’s direct, sometimes unexpectedly so, and that honesty gives us a window into how this deal came together. He even joked that if Kings GM Ken Holland had known just how badly he wanted to be in LA, he might’ve saved a few million on the offer.
Panarin had been in talks with the New York Rangers about a possible extension, but things never quite clicked. As the team struggled and began to shift toward a different direction, both sides agreed it was time to move on. That kicked off a search-not just for a team with cap space or playoff aspirations, but for the right fit.
“I try to find a team for myself, where I want to be,” Panarin explained. “So it’s kind of about feeling.
Obviously, you look at the players, and then I was speaking with Gavrikov the last couple days, a lot. So he introduced LA-a great organization, great teammates there.
Obviously, great spot to live.”
That last part matters. For a veteran like Panarin, who’s done the grind and played under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, quality of life and team culture are just as important as systems and stats. And when fellow Russian and former King Vladislav Gavrikov gave him the inside scoop on life in LA, it helped seal the deal.
What also stood out was Panarin’s desire for stability. He wasn’t looking to be a short-term rental or a deadline chip. He wanted a team that saw him as part of their core-not just a guy to chase a playoff run and then let walk in July.
“I don’t want to be rented, like, for a couple months and then go somewhere else,” he said. “I just look for a team, like, ‘Who wants me? Who can sign me right away?’”
The Kings answered that question with a two-year commitment, signaling they see Panarin as more than just a splashy midseason addition-they see him as a difference-maker who can help elevate this group now and into next season.
Panarin won’t jump into the lineup immediately. The Kings are on the road in Vegas tonight, and with the Olympic break starting tomorrow, he’ll use that downtime to get acclimated-both on and off the ice. It’s a rare bit of scheduling luck that gives him a soft landing into his new home.
“It’s probably perfect timing for me for switching teams, when [the] Olympics break starts,” he said. “It gives you some time for meeting with the guys, and then just have a couple of practices together before you play. Usually, it’s happening in the season, and guys, they’re playing the next day, somewhere else.”
If all goes according to plan, Panarin will make his Kings debut on Wednesday, February 25-ironically, also against the Golden Knights. That game could mark the beginning of a new chapter not just for Panarin, but for a Kings team that’s clearly looking to make a push with their new star in tow.
One thing’s certain: Panarin’s not just here to skate out the season. He chose LA, and he’s ready to make it count.