The NHL trade wire delivered a jolt this week, and it caught 20-year-old Kings prospect Greentree right in the middle of it - literally.
“I was just on the bus and a couple of guys were asking me if I got traded for Artemi Panarin and I didn’t know,” Greentree said. “I saw Instagram and then my agent called. It was kind of real after that.”
That’s how the former first-rounder found out he was headed to New York.
The Los Angeles Kings sent Greentree, their 2024 first-round pick, along with two conditional draft picks to the Rangers in exchange for 34-year-old Artemi Panarin - a bold move bringing a proven veteran to L.A. and sending a promising young forward to the East Coast.
Panarin, the 2016 Calder Trophy winner and a two-time All-Star, brings immediate offensive firepower to the Kings. He’s been one of the league’s most consistent point producers over the past decade, and even at 34, his vision, skating, and playmaking ability remain elite. For a Kings team looking to make a serious playoff push, this is a clear win-now move.
But don’t sleep on what the Rangers are getting in return. Greentree is a six-foot-three, 216-pound forward with a high ceiling.
He’s still early in his development curve, but his size and skill set have scouts intrigued. In short: there’s real upside here.
“Honestly, I was pretty surprised by it,” Greentree admitted. “This kind of stuff, you don’t get a warning about it. It’s a part of the business and I’ve accepted that.”
That’s the nature of the NHL - one moment you’re a top prospect in a team’s pipeline, the next you’re headed across the country to start fresh. Greentree’s taking it in stride, though, showing the kind of maturity teams love to see in a young player.
“It is what it is, but the Kings treated me well and it was super awesome to be drafted by them,” he said. “But I’m looking forward to the next phase with the Rangers.”
And that next phase could be exciting. The Rangers are adding a young, motivated player who now has a little extra chip on his shoulder - the kind that often fuels breakout seasons. Greentree knows the opportunity in front of him, and he’s embracing it.
“I’m definitely pumped about it,” he said. “Again, it kind of comes as a surprise, but it’s super exciting and there are some new opportunities.”
For both teams, this deal signals a clear direction. The Kings are pushing their chips in with Panarin, hoping his veteran presence can help them contend now. The Rangers, meanwhile, are betting on the future - and on a 20-year-old who just might turn out to be a cornerstone piece down the line.