The Seattle Kraken might’ve walked away with the win on the ice Wednesday night, taking down the Los Angeles Kings for their fourth victory in five games-but off the ice, LA landed the bigger blow. The Kings pulled off a major trade to acquire Artemi Panarin, and while the Kraken were very much in the mix, they came up just short despite making a bold push to bring the star winger to the Pacific Northwest.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman, Seattle didn’t just kick the tires-they went all in. Multiple sources told Friedman the Kraken put a four-year extension offer on the table for Panarin with an average annual value higher than Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million. That’s a jaw-dropping number, and it speaks volumes about how serious Seattle is about taking the next step.
It’s aggressive. It’s ambitious.
And honestly, it fits. The Kraken are sitting third in the Pacific Division and firmly in the playoff picture, but they’re clearly not content with just making the postseason-they want to make noise once they get there.
Adding a game-breaking scorer like Panarin would’ve been a massive swing toward that goal.
Seattle GM Jason Botterill kept things close to the vest, as expected, but didn’t shy away from the fact that the team is in go-mode.
“We had discussions with Paul Theofanous…just like numerous other teams,” Botterill said, referring to Panarin’s agent. “We will continue to be aggressive at improving our team. But we won’t comment on discussions with agents/players.”
The Kraken were reportedly willing to part with young center Shane Wright in a potential trade package-another sign of just how far they were willing to go to get this done. And when it came to the contract offer, Seattle outbid LA by a wide margin.
The Kings’ offer? Two years at $11 million per.
Seattle’s? More years, more money, and arguably a better long-term fit.
But in the end, Panarin had the final say. Armed with a no-movement clause, he chose his destination-and he chose Los Angeles.
Friedman also noted that Panarin was open to joining either of the Florida teams-the Panthers or the Lightning-but both clubs ran into cap issues and couldn’t make the numbers work, particularly when it came to signing an extension.
So with other contenders unable to clear space and Seattle offering the biggest deal on the table, it came down to one team Panarin wanted, and one team that wanted him: the Kings. That’s how LA landed a superstar without having to give up a massive haul in return.
For Seattle, it’s a tough miss. But it’s also a clear signal to the rest of the league: the Kraken aren’t just here to compete-they’re here to contend. And with the trade deadline still looming, don’t expect them to sit quietly.