Panarin gifts Kings mascot Rolex watch to share number

It’s customary to give a gift to a teammate to use their jersey number, and Artemi Panarin is sticking to the tradition.

The forward plans to wear No. 72 as he joins the Los Angeles Kings, but, unfortunately for him, the team mascot, Bailey, already dons No. 72 on his sweater.

So, as things go, Panarin gifted the lion a Rolex watch as a sign of goodwill.

The two shared a big hug and a friendly handshake after Panarin revealed the gift.

Panarin wore No. 72 when he entered the League with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He joins the Kings after he was traded from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4, just before the break for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. He signed a two-year, $22 million contract with Los Angeles.

While Panarin missed the Kings’ final game before the Olympic break, he and his No. 72 jersey are projected to make their Kings debut on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, SN1, TVAS).

Bailey -- a member of the Mascot Hall of Fame -- will continue to wear No. 72 (“because it’s always 72 degrees in Los Angeles") but we don't expect that to cause too much confusion on the ice.