The Seattle Kraken swung big-and missed.
According to multiple reports, including details shared by insider Elliotte Friedman, the Kraken made a serious push to land Artemi Panarin before the star winger was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings. Seattle reportedly offered Panarin a four-year contract with an average annual value north of $14 million-more than what Leon Draisaitl is making on his new deal in Edmonton. That’s not just a competitive offer; that’s a franchise-altering swing for a player who’s still performing at an elite level.
But despite the money on the table, Panarin had his sights set elsewhere. The 34-year-old Russian forward exercised his leverage and made it clear he wanted to head west-but not to the Pacific Northwest. His preferred destinations were all in warmer climates: Florida, Tampa Bay, Anaheim, San Jose, and ultimately Los Angeles, where he landed in a deal that sent prospect Liam Greentree and conditional third- and fourth-round picks to the Rangers.
From a pure hockey standpoint, the Kraken could’ve easily matched or even outbid the Kings’ trade package. But this wasn’t about assets-it was about preference. Panarin had control, and he used it.
Kraken GM Jason Botterill confirmed the team had conversations with Panarin’s camp, led by agent Paul Theofanous, but declined to go into specifics. “We had discussions with Paul Theofanous… just like numerous other teams,” Botterill said Thursday morning.
“We will continue to be aggressive at improving our team. But we won’t comment on discussions with agents/players.”
And make no mistake, Seattle has been aggressive behind the scenes. For months, there’s been buzz around the league that the Kraken are hungry to upgrade their offense and make a serious move. They’ve often been linked to big names, but this is perhaps the first time they were truly in the mix for a marquee player-and willing to pay top dollar.
This wasn’t just a flirtation. This was a full-court press.
Panarin, for his part, is still producing at a high clip. Through 52 games this season, he’s already tallied 19 goals and 57 points-numbers that would’ve made him the Kraken’s leading scorer the moment he touched down in Seattle. That’s the kind of offensive punch the Kraken have been missing, and the kind of game-breaking talent that could’ve shifted the balance of power in the Western Conference.
Instead, he heads to a Kings team that’s already in the playoff hunt and just added one of the most dynamic wingers in the league. The Kraken, meanwhile, are left wondering what could’ve been-and what comes next.
There’s no doubt Seattle is still on the hunt. The team has been linked to potential moves involving young forwards like Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, signaling a willingness to shake things up in order to land an established top-six scorer. Whether that means parting with future cornerstones or continuing to chase big names in free agency or via trade, the message is clear: the Kraken aren’t content with standing pat.
They’ve got cap space, they’ve got assets, and now they’ve got the motivation of a near-miss.
Panarin may have chosen the sunshine of Southern California over the rain in Seattle, but the Kraken’s pursuit of him shows they’re ready to play in the deep end of the NHL talent pool. And as the trade deadline inches closer, don’t be surprised if Seattle makes another bold move. They’ve already shown their hand-they’re ready to go big.