{"id":451213,"date":"2026-02-08T14:14:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T14:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/451213\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T14:14:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T14:14:33","slug":"takeaways-from-the-artemi-panarin-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/451213\/","title":{"rendered":"Takeaways From the Artemi Panarin Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was another Wednesday until it wasn\u2019t. With the trade deadline a month away, LA Kings<\/a> General Manager Ken Holland made his first splash on the job since accepting it nearly nine months ago.<\/p>\n

With two games left before the Olympic break, Holland pulled off a trade with the New York Rangers, acquiring 34-year-old forward Artemi Panarin<\/a>. In return, the Rangers received the Kings\u2019 number-one prospect, Liam Greentree<\/a>, and two conditional draft picks.<\/p>\n

pic.twitter.com\/2ciDyvUGZY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LA Kings (@LAKings) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

ARTEMI PANARIN IS AN LA KING. \ud83c\udf5e<\/p>\n

Full release \ud83d\udcf0\ud83d\udcf2 https:\/\/t.co\/2pUOAa8SPk<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/u5NwmyQ7m5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LA Kings (@LAKings) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Although everything has happened so suddenly, here are my takeaways from the deal.<\/p>\n

Kings get offense<\/p>\n

By now, we all know the Kings have been starving for offense. With Panarin, Los Angeles gets a player who will instantly slide into the top six of their forward group. Panarin has 57 points (19 G, 38 A) in 52 games with the Rangers this season. With the Kings playing a defense-first system, we\u2019ll see if Panarin will be the same player for the Kings as he was with the Rangers (more on that later).<\/p>\n

Artemi Panarin doing Artemi Panarin things. \ud83c\udfaf pic.twitter.com\/dqwGvKaX1O<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Fair price<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a bad deal for the Kings from my perspective. Two conditional picks and a prospect? You take that deal anytime. While I valued Greentree highly over the last year, you have to give up an important asset to get something in return. The two-year extension for the Breadman should soften the blow a little bit, but the Kings\u2019 shallow prospect pool is now extremely thin up front, with Greentree off to New York.<\/p>\n

Artemi Panarin is going to the Los Angeles Kings, let me and @AdamSchefter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Liam Greentree and conditional third round pick are the return.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m told the Kings were the only team Artemi Panarin wanted to go to and the only team #NYR<\/a> had to work with.<\/p>\n

Return is Liam Greentree, a conditional 3rd that can become a second if the Kings win 1 playoff round (would be better of two Kings 3rds) and a conditional\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Panarin extends with LA:<\/p>\n

2 x $11M AAV<\/p>\n

\u2014 Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Kings are all in, but is it enough?<\/p>\n

The mindset when Holland joined was to be all-in and go for the Stanley Cup. That thought process hasn\u2019t changed. The Kings are all in as Drew Doughty<\/a> and Anze Kopitar<\/a> are in the twilight of their careers, but is it enough? I\u2019m not sure if Panarin alone puts the Kings above the Colorado Avalanche or the Dallas Stars. Is it enough to finally slay the dragon in Edmonton that\u2019s been in their way for four straight years? It\u2019s a gamble, but Holland is always one who isn\u2019t afraid to take a gamble for better or worse.<\/p>\n

Are Panarin and the Kings a match?<\/p>\n

Offensive-minded player versus a defensive-first-oriented team. When you come to California and play for the Kings, you not only have to deal with the California taxes, but also the Kings\u2019 tax. From reports, it sounds as if Panarin had the Kings as his top destination. There\u2019s no denying Panarin\u2019s talents, but can he fit in Jim Hiller\u2019s defense-first system? That will be something to watch for.<\/p>\n

Artemi Panarin, acquired by LA, is an elite playmaking winger. Incredibly patient and deceptive with the puck, one of the best east-west passers in the game, an excellent goal-scorer, and deadly in transition despite his lack of foot speed. #GoKingsGo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/oN2hhwLGCg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured image credit: Robert Sabo\/New York Post<\/p>\n

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