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Artemi Panarin currently leads the New York Rangers in assists and points in the 2025-26 season.
The Los Angeles Kings have acquired star forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers, as reported by Adam Schefter.
“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 Emily Kaplan,” Schefter said in a tweet this afternoon.
Panarin, 34, has 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 52 games. He is currently 24th in NHL scoring. The Rangers, in exchange, acquire a third round pick and Liam Greentree, the Kings’ first round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Panarin Brings Scoring Touch to Kings
Panarin is one of the top forwards in the NHL. Over the last four seasons, he’s put together 358 points in 296 games. He is the seventh-highest scoring player in the NHL in that timeframe. He led the Rangers in scoring for the last eight seasons and held the record for longest team leader in points during that timeframe. Despite the Rangers’ low finishing numbers, Panarin still managed to put up exceptional stats across the board.
Panarin is scoring well above a point-per-game this season and is more than capable of playing top line minutes. The Kings, who are just one point out of a playoff spot, acquire the perfect solution to their negative-10 goal differential. The Kings will likely slot Panarin on the top line alongside Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere.
NHL beat writer Mollie Walker revealed today that Panarin’s only destination he had in mind was Los Angeles. “I’m told the Kings were the only team Artemi Panarin wanted to go to and the only team the Rangers had to work with,” Walker said.
Rangers Kick Off Retool with Greentree, Pick
The Rangers, on the other hand, acquire Liam Greentree, a 20-year-old right winger. Greentree is the captain of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, currently sporting 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points in 34 games. Elite Prospects praises Greentree for his awareness on the ice.
“Greentree navigates his way around opponents with a series of look-offs, give-and-goes, and a sophisticated delay game that allows him to problem-solve his way around numbers off the rush,” EP’s Draft Guide says. “He’s constantly scanning, registering his options and the obstacles that would keep him from getting them the puck.”
The conditional third round pick will become a second round pick if the Kings win a playoff round. It will be the better of the two Kings’ third round picks. If the Kings win two playoff rounds, the Rangers also acquire a conditional fourth-round, per Walker.
The Olympic freeze is officially in effect. From February 4th at 3PM EST to February 22nd at 11:59 EST, teams are forbidden from trading.
Jake Rivard Jake Rivard (@313Hockey) has covered the Detroit Red Wings for AP, 313 Hockey, Winging it in Motown, Last Word on Sports, and The Hockey. Joined by his cat Jimmy, Jake has made it his goal to spread the word of Hockeytown from sea to shining sea. More about Jake Rivard
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