LA Kings trade prospect Liam Greentree for star player Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers
Star winger Artemi Panarin is on his way over to the Los Angeles Kings from the New York Rangers in a blockbuster deal that was announced by the team on Wednesday.
Speculations of the trade began when the Rangers raised an eyebrow for a potential trade before their Jan. 28 game against the New York Islanders.
In exchange for Panarin, the Kings are sending Liam Greentree, who is a former-first round pick and prospect. Greentree was also a conditional third-round pick for the Rangers.
After making the deal official, the Kings announced that Panarin signed a two year contract extension. This extension is worth $11 million a season, which will kick in for the 2027-28 seasons. The team will be taking on 50% of his $11.6 million salary as part of the deal.
ESPN sources: The LA Kings have acquired standout forward Artemi Panarin from the NY Rangers in exchange for a conditional third-round pick and prospect Liam Greentree, per me and @emilymkaplan. pic.twitter.com/2PuTENRhEH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 4, 2026
Coming to the end of his contract with the Rangers, Panarin has a cap hit of over $11.6 million. This was one of the major reasons the Rangers decided to part ways with him.
Panarin has been a monumental player since entering the league in 2015. At 34 years-old he’s led the Rangers in assists and points and ranks within the top five for both categories. Two seasons ago, he ranked fifth in Hart Trophy voting and led the Rangers to the President’s Trophy.
Coaches decided to sit Panarin for the past three games with the Rangers. They didn’t want to risk any injuries before the deal was finalised. The Rangers intentionally pushed hard to get the new contract signed before the Olympic break.
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Many teams had their eyes set on him, including Carolina, Tampa Bay and Washington. However, Panarin and his agent had full control over the season as his contract has a no-movement clause. Sources say that he saw himself in Los Angeles.
In an aerial viewCredit: Photo by McNew/Getty Images
Last month, the Rangers announced that they would be “retooling” after a rocky first half of the season. General manager of the Rangers, Chris Drury, stated that the team won’t be extending another contract when the winger becomes a free agent.
The Rangers are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference but will remain busy until the March 6 NHL trade deadline.