Artemi Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings by the New York Rangers on Wednesday and signed a two-year, $22 million contract. It has an average annual value of $11 million and begins next season.
In return for the 34-year-old forward, the Rangers received forward prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. If the Kings win one playoff round this season, the pick will become a second-round pick. If Los Angeles wins two playoff rounds, New York will also receive a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Panarin, who is in the last of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract he signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2019, waived his full no-movement clause to join the Kings. New York will retain 50 percent of his remaining salary.
Panarin was held out of the past three games for roster management purposes leading up to the roster freeze for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which was 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The first game he missed was a 5-2 loss at the New York Islanders on Jan. 28. The Rangers announced their plans to retool the roster Jan. 16 in a letter to the fans from president and general manager Chris Drury. As part of that letter, he said they would be saying goodbye to players who have been a part of their recent successes.
The Rangers (22-28-6) entered Wednesday last in the Eastern Conference. They trail the Islanders by 17 points for third place in the Metropolitan Division, and 18 behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Panarin is a terrific player and a great teammate, and he's good friends with a lot of the guys that are in that dressing room," Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said following the loss at the Islanders. "That has an impact on guys. I thought our guys did a great job, just as far as controlling what they can and bringing the right intentions out there. But obviously, he's one of the best Rangers of his generation, and he's not an easy guy to replace, not in the lineup, but everybody understands it."
