Artemi Panarin Heads to L.A.: What It Means for the Kings-and How Vegas Plans to Respond
The Los Angeles Kings just made a statement-and it came with a blockbuster move that could shake up the Pacific Division playoff picture.
On Wednesday, the Kings acquired star winger Artemi Panarin in a trade that sent top prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick the other way. It's a major swing for a team that’s been searching all season for a scoring jolt-and with Panarin now in the fold, L.A. may have just found it.
Panarin, as usual, has been delivering elite production. The 32-year-old has already racked up 19 goals and 38 assists this season, continuing a trend of high-level play that’s defined his 11-year NHL career.
He’s sitting on 321 career goals and 606 assists, including a career-best 49-goal, 71-assist campaign just two seasons ago. The man known as “The Breadman” is still baking-and now he’s doing it in Southern California.
Why the Kings Pulled the Trigger
Let’s be honest: the Kings needed this.
Heading into Wednesday, L.A. was averaging just 2.57 goals per game-28th in the league. That’s not going to cut it in a division where the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks have both taken noticeable steps forward. Add in the looming presence of the Vegas Golden Knights and the ever-dangerous Edmonton Oilers, and the Kings were staring at a Pacific Division arms race they couldn’t afford to lose.
Panarin gives them a weapon they didn’t have: a dynamic, high-IQ forward who can drive offense on his own. He’s a power-play threat, a transition wizard, and a nightmare for defenders in open ice. And with a fresh two-year extension reportedly worth $11 million AAV, the Kings are betting big that he can help push them over the top-now and in the near future.
Vegas Takes Notice-and Draws Up a Plan
Of course, every action has a reaction-and you can bet the Golden Knights took note.
Vegas, already bracing for another playoff showdown with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, now has a new problem to solve in Panarin. The Kings just got a lot more dangerous, and for a team like the Golden Knights that’s built its identity on physicality and playoff grit, the response is clear: make life miserable for the new guy.
Panarin isn’t the biggest player on the ice. At 6'0", 176 pounds, he’s not exactly built to absorb heavy punishment shift after shift.
That’s where Vegas’ physical depth comes into play. Look for players like Keegan Kolesar to bring the body early and often, especially in games that could carry playoff implications.
And don’t be surprised if Vegas leans on bruisers like Jeremy Lauzon-who’s already logged 152 hits this season-to set the tone.
The Knights have a history of using physicality to their advantage. Guys like Ryan Reaves and Deryk Engelland helped establish that identity during Vegas’ early years, and while the roster has evolved, that edge hasn’t gone away. They’re still more than willing to turn games into a grind-and that’s exactly the kind of environment they’ll want to drag Panarin into.
The Bigger Picture in the Pacific
This trade doesn’t just impact the Kings and Golden Knights-it reshapes the Pacific Division hierarchy.
With Anaheim and San Jose both on the rise, and Edmonton always looming with two of the league’s most dangerous stars, the Kings couldn’t afford to stand pat. Adding Panarin gives them the kind of elite scoring punch that could push them into a higher tier. But it also puts a target on their back.
For Vegas, the message is clear: adapt or fall behind. The Golden Knights are still very much in the Stanley Cup conversation, but staying there means keeping pace with the changing landscape around them. That starts with making sure Panarin doesn’t get comfortable in his new home.
The next chapter in this rivalry is coming soon. And if Vegas wants to write a winning script, they’ll need to bring their trademark bite-because the Kings just added some serious firepower.