The Artemi Panarin saga is over because the Latest York Rangers have traded him to the Los Angeles Kings for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third round pick.
Coniditions on the Third-round pick heading to #NYR within the Artemi Panarin trade:
If the #LAKings win a playoff round this 12 months, it becomes a 2nd-rounder
If the #LAKings win two playoff rounds this 12 months, in addition they receive a 2028 4th-round pick
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 4, 2026
The Rangers are retaining 50 percent of Panarin’s salary $8 million salary. His cap hit was $11,642,857.
Shortly after the trade, the 34-year-old Panarin signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings for $22 million, an $11 million cap hit.
The Kings have acquired Artemi Panarin for Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick, league source confirms. @emilymkaplan and @AdamSchefter were first.
The Kings were the team Panarin’s camp desired to go to in the long run, I’m told. No probability for a bidding war.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) February 4, 2026
Greentree was drafted twenty sixth overall in the primary round of the 2024 draft by the Kings. In 34 games with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, the 6′ 3″ forward has 23 goals and 22 assists.
Many teams were involved in the method, including the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Mammoth. There have been others who inquired but didn’t have a probability of trading for him, provided that the player had a no-movement clause and controlled where he desired to go.
There had been noise surrounding Artemi Panarin as he was held out of the lineup for trade-related reasons last week, ahead of a home-and-home series with the Latest York Islanders. The Rangers announced he can be out of the lineup for roster-related reasons up until the Olympic Roster Freeze on Wednesday, February 4th. It has been the goal from the player and team sides to get this done before the Roster Freeze.
Nevertheless, this was an advanced cope with layers. The Rangers knew, going back to last summer, that Panarin desired to test free agency in the summertime of 2026. While they tried to barter a deal, they didn’t wish to rush into an extension with a 34-year-old player in search of a four- or five-year deal at his current AAV of $11.7 million. The Rangers weren’t willing to do this.
We all know the Rangers had high expectations this season of constructing the playoffs. But given his status as a pending unrestricted free agent, how the season played would determine every little thing for Panarin. Once GM Chris Drury sent out the letter informing the fans of a retool with fan favorites on the move, the writing was on the wall for a Panarin trade.
Since signing as a member of the Latest York Rangers in July 2019, Artemi Panarin has recorded 607 points (205 goals and 402 assists) in 482 games with the franchise. He averaged 1.26 points per game and recorded one final assist in a 4-3 comeback victory over the Boston Bruins on Madison Square Garden ice.
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from across the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.