Panarin Heads to L.A., and the Sharks’ Playoff Push Just Got Real
DENVER - If the San Jose Sharks were hoping for a smooth path to their first playoff appearance in seven years, the Los Angeles Kings just made sure that road got a little bumpier.
In a bold move that could shake up the Western Conference playoff picture, the Kings landed Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers just minutes before the NHL’s roster freeze hit on Wednesday. The cost?
Prospect forward Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick. The payoff?
Potentially huge.
And the Kings didn’t stop there. They locked in the 34-year-old Panarin with a two-year, $22 million extension almost immediately after the deal was finalized. With a full no-movement clause in his contract, Panarin had full control over his destination-and he chose L.A.
This doesn’t necessarily change the Sharks’ approach-they already dipped into the trade market last month, picking up forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for two second-round picks and minor-league defenseman Cole Clayton. Sherwood made his debut in teal Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
But let’s be honest: the stakes just got higher.
Panarin isn’t just a name. He’s been the guy in New York, leading the Rangers in scoring for seven straight seasons.
This year? 57 points in 52 games.
That’s elite production, and now he’s skating in the Pacific Division, suiting up for a team the Sharks are directly battling in the standings.
Heading into Wednesday, the Kings were averaging just 2.57 goals per game-28th in the league. That’s a number that screams for offensive help, and Panarin brings exactly that. He’s a plug-and-play top-line winger who can tilt the ice, drive play, and make an immediate impact.
The Sharks, sitting at 58 points, were three behind the Seattle Kraken for the final wild card spot in the West. The Kings?
Just one point back of Seattle. And with the Pacific Division still wide open-Vegas and Edmonton were tied at 64 points, Anaheim just a point behind-it’s a race that’s far from settled.
San Jose does have one thing going for it: a favorable schedule. According to Tankathon.com, the Sharks have the third-easiest remaining slate in the league based on opponents’ points percentage.
That’s the good news. The bad news?
The Ducks and Kings have even easier roads ahead.
So what now?
For head coach Ryan Warsofsky, the message is clear: focus on the process, not the noise.
“We’re in a unique position right now because of how well we’ve played,” Warsofsky said Tuesday. “Now that we’re here, we’re gripping it.
We want to go out and play this perfect game and just win the game. Your process helps you win the game.”
Translation: stop pressing, start playing.
“We’ve got to get back to just playing a little bit fast, a little bit loose, a little bit more connected,” he added. “These guys have been playing since they were three or four years old.
Let’s have some fun. Let’s play and just loosen up a little bit.”
There had been some smoke around Panarin potentially landing in San Jose. The Sharks were one of several teams to check in with the Rangers, and reports suggested Panarin was open to signing an extension in the Bay Area. It’s possible San Jose could’ve matched the Kings’ contract offer and even sweetened the trade package.
But in the end, it didn’t matter. Reports indicated L.A. was the only team Panarin was truly interested in joining.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for the Sharks, especially as they try to establish themselves as a destination for top-tier talent. They’ve got an exciting young core and a front office that isn’t afraid to make moves. But attracting high-profile names like Panarin may still take time.
Would he have looked good in teal? Absolutely. But now the focus shifts to the stretch run-and how GM Mike Grier responds before the March 6 trade deadline, especially now that a direct rival just leveled up.
Injury Updates
There’s some cautiously optimistic news on the injury front. Ryan Reaves, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury, is considered more day-to-day than week-to-week, according to Warsofsky. The Sharks’ first game after the Olympic break is set for Feb. 26 at home against the Calgary Flames, so there’s a chance Reaves could be back in the mix by then.
As for forward Ty Dellandrea, he’s making progress from a lower-body injury suffered on Jan. 6. Warsofsky said it’s still too early to know if he’ll be ready to return by the end of the month.
Bottom Line
The Kings just made a power move. The Sharks have to respond-not necessarily with another trade, but with clarity, confidence, and consistency on the ice. The playoff race in the West is heating up, and with Panarin now in the mix, the margin for error just got slimmer.