Artemi Panarin signed up to star on Broadway. Now, he wants his shot at Hollywood.
Panarin’s nearly seven-season run with the Rangers officially ended Wednesday — just prior to the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze — when he waived his no-trade clause and accepted a deal that will send him to the Kings in exchange for forward prospect Liam Greentree (a 2024 first-round pick) and a conditional third-round pick, which will convey to a second-rounder if L.A. wins a playoff series this spring. The Rangers would also receive a 2028 fourth-round pick if the Kings win a second round playoff series.
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Though multiple teams were interested in acquiring the star forward, Panarin — who will reportedly sign a two-year extension with the Kings at an $11 million annual average value — wanted to land in Los Angeles, leaving the Rangers with virtually no leverage in negotiations, and preventing them from taking advantage of a potential bidding war over the best player likely to be dealt before the March 6 trade deadline.
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Panarin, 34, hasn’t played since Jan. 26 and had spent the past week away from the last-place Rangers (22-28-6) after being informed by general manager Chris Drury that he would not be offered a new contract when the seven-year, $81.5 million deal Panarin signed with the Rangers expires after this season. The Rangers will retain half of Panarin’s prorated $11.6 million salary for the rest of the season.
Panarin was leading the Rangers in points for the seventh straight season, recording 19 goals and 38 assists in 52 games.
Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin reacts after he scores a goal against the Minnesota Wild in the first period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 20, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
The Olympic roster freeze will remain in effect until Feb. 22, when Drury can resume his plan to “retool” his disappointing roster, with potential trade candidates in Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider. Last week, the Rangers began their overhaul with a rare trade with the Islanders, who received defenseman Carson Soucy in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
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“With our position in the standings and injuries to key players this season, we must be honest and realistic about our situation,” Drury wrote in a letter to fans on Jan. 16. “We are not going to stand pat. A shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This will not be a rebuild. This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects.”
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) moves the puck behind the net in the third period at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
In 2019, the Rangers — coming off back-to-back losing seasons — won the sweepstakes for Panarin, signing the prize of that offseason in the playmaking Russian, who split his first four seasons between Columbus and Chicago.
“When you see him play, the fans are going to enjoy it because of the style he has to his game, he can be electrifying at times,” Rangers president John Davidson said after Panarin’s signing. “We know he wants to be here in New York, specifically with the Rangers. It’s a perfect fit.”
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Panarin lived up to the hype, cementing his place as one of the best free agent signings in Rangers history, becoming a Hart Trophy finalist in 2020, then finishing fifth in the MVP voting in 2024, when he recorded 120 points— ranking second in Rangers single-season history — while leading the team to the Presidents’ Trophy and their second conference finals appearance in a three-year span.
Panarin played 482 regular season games with the Rangers, ranking ninth in franchise history with 607 points (205 goals, 402 assists). His 1.26 points per game average is the best in team history, as is his 0.83 assists per game, edging Wayne Gretzky.
Panarin also had 12 goals and 23 assists in 46 playoff games, memorably delivering the first round series winner in overtime of Game 7 against the Penguins in 2022.
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“It’s hard to say how I feel,” Panarin said last month after being told the Rangers would not offer him an extension. “I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that.”