Pacific Division rival set to swing big after missing on Panarin

The Los Angeles Kings made huge waves in the league in the NHL this past week in the West in the Pacific Division when new general manager Ken Holland made the move on the trade block to get star forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in the East on Feb. 4 and before the roster freeze.

Seattle Kraken were offering Artemi Panarin massive amounts of money before he chose the Los Angeles Kings this past week

One of the teams that was apparently interested in spending a lot of money on a contract extension deal in the West in the Pacific Division for Panarin from New York with the Rangers was the Seattle Kraken. It’s been reported in the past few days in the West that the Kraken were willing to give Panarin a contract extension deal in the ballpark of nearly $20 million in average annual value over the course of four years.

The combination of fit with the team in the West in the Pacific Division and the weather in Los Angeles convinced Panarin to pick the Kings over the Kraken in Seattle this regular season.

Seattle’s front office appears to be moving on from the Panarin whiff and to find other players to target on the trade block around the league in the NHL this regular season.

Elliotte Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Sportsnet that the Kraken are ready to spend big this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division after missing on Panarin on the trade block this past week on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s known that the Kraken need more scoring in their top-six. If Panarin was a target, then it’s easy to determine some other potential candidates to join the organization.”

Elliotte Friedman

It sounds like if the Kraken were able to pull off a trade with the Rangers in New York for Panarin on the trade block this regular season in the West, it probably would’ve involved Seattle sending forward Shane Wright to MSG in the East.

The Kings ended up signing Panarin to a contract extension deal worth around $11.5 million in average annual value over the course of two years (through the end of the 2026-27 season).