Alex DeBrincat successfully recruited Patrick Kane to join the Detroit Red Wings in 2023. Kane, however, was not successful in trying to convince Artemi Panarin, another of his former Chicago Blackhawks teammates, to come to Detroit.

But it’s not Kane’s fault. Panarin wanted to go only to Los Angeles, so the New York Rangers traded him on Wednesday to the Kings for right wing Liam Greentree, the 26th overall pick in 2024 who’s in his final junior season with Windsor (OHL) and conditional third- and fourth-round picks.

Panarin told media this week during a Zoom call that Kane had texted him numerous times trying to get him to choose Detroit. Panarin’s no-trade clause essentially forced the Rangers to move him to the destination of his choice.

“I hate him, so I didn’t want to come to Detroit,” Panarin joked to reporters.

Kings general manager Ken Holland immediately signed Panarin, 34, to two-year extension valued at $11 million per season.

“(Holland) waited pretty long (to make the trade), he made me nervous,” Panarin said. “I have experience being a free agent, so it was kind of similar. … I was not ready to pick a team where I didn’t want to go. I probably go back to Russia if L.A. doesn’t give me anything.”

The Red Wings are in the market for a second-pair defenseman and a forward with offensive ability. The trade deadline is March 6.

Panarin was the premier offensive player in the trade market. He played his first two NHL seasons with Kane in Chicago. Kane was “pretty emotional” and “a little disappointed” when the Blackhawks traded Panarin to Columbus in 2017.

“I think I’d be sitting here lying to you if (I didn’t say) my first reaction was pretty emotional,” Kane told Sportsnet in 2017. “A little bit of disappointment, too, because obviously we had that chemistry the past couple years.”

Kane was the Hart Trophy (league MVP) and Art Ross Trophy (scoring leader) in 2015-16, the same season the undrafted Panarin garnered the Calder Trophy as top rookie.

The two were briefly reunited on the Rangers toward the end of the 2022-23 season.