02/04/26 02:49:00
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02/04 14:48 CST Kings are acquiring Artemi Panarin in a trade with the Rangers,
AP source says
Kings are acquiring Artemi Panarin in a trade with the Rangers, AP source says
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
The Los Angeles Kings are acquiring winger Artemi Panarin from the New York
Rangers for a conditional third-round draft pick and prospect Liam Greentree,
according to a person with knowledge of the trade.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday
because the trade had not been announced. Because Panarin had a full
no-movement clause, he was able to control his destination to go to LA, and the
Rangers retained half of his $11.6 million salary cap hit, the person said.
If the Kings win a playoff round, the pick becomes a second-rounder. If they
reach the Western Conference final, the Rangers also get a 2028 fourth-round
pick.
The deal takes the best player available off the market more than a month
before the March 6 trade deadline. It beat the Olympic trade freeze by minutes.
Panarin led the Rangers in scoring every season since signing with them as a
free agent in 2019.
They began scratching Panarin for roster management purposes last week, opting
not to risk the possibility of an injury that could scuttle trade talks. He had
19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 52 games before coming out of the
lineup.
Moving on from Panarin is the first big deal of what general manager Chris
Drury called a retooling process rather than a rebuild. In a letter to fans on
Jan. 16, Drury said the focus would be on "obtaining young players, draft picks
and cap space to allow us flexibility moving forward."
Greentree is a 20-year-old winger taken in the first round of the draft last
year.
Trading Panarin does that more than sending depth defenseman Carson Soucy to
the crosstown rival New York Islanders for a third-round pick, which was the
first trade since the letter. Vincent Trocheck, who is 32 and signed for three
more seasons after this one at a reasonable salary cap hit of $5.625 million,
could fetch more than Panarin if he gets dealt.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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