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On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings secured the services of prolific left-wing player Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers, in exchange for a conditional third-round draft selection and up-and-coming talent Liam Greentree.
Following the trade, the Kings formalized Panarin’s presence with a two-year, $22 million USD agreement, ensuring the Russian attacker remains in Los Angeles until the conclusion of the 2027-28 campaign.
This transaction concludes several weeks of speculation surrounding the career path of the 34-year-old Panarin, who had been sidelined since January 26th, as the Rangers benched him in preparation for moving their leading point-producer for seven straight seasons. He presently holds the top spot for New York with 57 points across 52 contests.
Panarin represents a significant gain for the Kings, a team that has maintained its pursuit of a fifth consecutive postseason berth this year, even while standing 31st in the NHL for goals scored with 139 and 29th in efficiency on the power play. This season, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala are the sole Kings players to exceed 13 goals or 30 points.
For over ten years, Los Angeles has adhered to a defensive-minded hockey philosophy, and head coach Jim Hiller has maintained this approach despite experiencing four straight first-round eliminations from the playoffs at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. Nevertheless, newly appointed general manager Ken Holland orchestrated this maneuver to infuse dynamism and offensive prowess into a squad that seemed to be caught between vying for the Stanley Cup and undergoing a complete reconstruction.
Panarin ranks as the NHL’s seventh-highest scorer during the last five seasons, contributing 156 goals and 298 assists for the New York squad. He achieved a minimum of 25 goals in eight out of his initial 10 seasons, notably reaching a personal best of 49 goals and 120 points two seasons prior.
Panarin’s exit marks the most substantial transaction to date in what General Manager Chris Drury termed a strategic adjustment, as opposed to a complete overhaul, for the Rangers, who are currently at the bottom of the standings. In correspondence addressed to supporters on January 16th, Drury articulated that the priority would be centered on “acquiring emerging talent, draft selections, and salary cap room to provide us with adaptability going forward.”
However, due to Panarin possessing a complete no-movement clause in his contract, he held the authority to determine his next team. After multiple competitive organizations expressed interest in his skills, he opted for Los Angeles.
New York Bears $5.8 Million USD of Panarin’s Salary Cap Burden
The Rangers kept 50% of his $11.6 million salary cap obligation, simultaneously bringing in Greentree, the 20-year-old forward from the Windsor Spitfires who was selected towards the end of the first round in the 2024 draft.
Should the Kings advance past a playoff series, the draft selection transforms into a second-round pick. Should they progress to the Western Conference final, the Rangers will additionally receive a fourth-round pick in 2028.
This transaction, concluded under sixty minutes prior to the NHL’s 3 p.m. ET Olympic trade moratorium, removes the premier available player from consideration over a month in advance of the March 6th trade cutoff.
Panarin represents the third key player from recent Rangers squads to relocate to Southern California since the New York team made it to the Eastern Conference final in 2024.
Jacob Trouba, the defensive player who captained the Rangers for two and a half campaigns, was sent to the Anaheim Ducks by Drury in December 2024. Experienced forward Chris Kreider, the player with the longest continuous service for the Rangers, was similarly dispatched to Anaheim by Drury during the previous summer.
Both athletes have flourished in their new setting with the Ducks, a team currently vying for their initial playoff berth since 2018.
Since Drury’s declaration regarding rebuilding efforts, the Rangers have already exchanged supplementary defenceman Carson Soucy with their local competitor, the New York Islanders, for a third-round selection.
Vincent Trocheck, aged 32 and contracted for three additional seasons beyond the current one at an agreeable salary cap figure of $5.625 million, has the potential to command a higher return than Panarin if he were to be traded.
Caleb Jones of Penguins Receives 20-Game Suspension
The National Hockey League has handed a 20-game suspension to Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Caleb Jones, who is currently injured, due to a breach of the regulations outlined in the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Jones, aged 28, is experiencing his inaugural season with the Penguins. The team moved him to injured reserve in late October following a foot ailment, subsequently reassigning him to their American Hockey League associate team located in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania. He participated in a single game for Wilkes-Barre in January prior to incurring an injury to his upper body.
In a declaration disseminated by the NHL Players Association, Jones stated his belief that he was exposed to an impure substance during exosome therapy administered by an external specialist.
“Although I did not deliberately consume the forbidden substance or utilize it to improve my athletic capabilities, I acknowledge that participants are accountable for all substances introduced into their system and therefore accept the punitive measures enforced by the program,” Jones commented. “I regret having disappointed my fellow players, the Penguins franchise, and our supporters.”
Jones, who is the younger sibling of Panthers defenceman Seth Jones, accumulated a single point across seven matchups with the Penguins in October, subsequent to finalizing a two-year agreement with Pittsburgh during the previous summer.
Penguins’ general manager Kyle Dubas conveyed that the team “commends” Jones’ candor and that Jones is expected to adhere to all NHL and NHLPA guidelines throughout his suspension. Dubas further mentioned that Jones benefits from the organization’s “complete backing.”
Devils Complete Transaction for Nick Bjugstad
The New Jersey Devils secured forward Nick Bjugstad through an exchange with the St. Louis Blues, which was finalized right before the Olympic roster moratorium took effect.
In exchange for Bjugstad, they dispatched a conditional fourth-round draft choice and prospect Thomas Bordeleau from the minor leagues. This pick represents the final one of the three fourth-round selections New Jersey presently holds, alongside those from Dallas and Winnipeg.
Bjugstad, at 33 years old, has recorded seven points across 35 matches this season, having joined St. Louis as an unrestricted free agent. The Devils’ acquisition of him signifies the commencement of their utilization of the salary cap room freed up by trading winger Ondrej Palat to the New York Islanders.
Bjugstad’s contract extends until the next season, carrying a favorable cap charge of $1.75 million USD per annum. The Devils had obtained Bordeleau earlier in the current season as part of an arrangement with San Jose.
