Tonight won't be the night that new star forward Artemi Panarin will make his debut in a uniform with the Los Angeles Kings and head coach Jim Hiller in the Western Conference in the Pacific Division vs. the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, the Kings and new general manager Ken Holland are exhilarated about Panarin joining LA from the Rangers in New York this week in the West.
Artemi Panarin explains the process of getting traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the West
Panarin spoke with the media on Thursday night (Feb. 5) to explain his decision to play for the Kings in LA this regular season in the West late this week.
There is a lot of familiarity between the Rangers in New York and the Kings team in the West this regular season. Former Kings players and goalie Jonathan Quick, including defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, helped to provide guidance for Panarin in his decision to choose the Kings in the West on the trade block from the Rangers this regular season.
"I just want to play with the guys, regardless of the short-term deal, which wasn't what I was looking for, but I wanted to play for L.A."
The deal for Panarin to join the Kings team yesterday came together right before the deadline on the trade block for the roster freeze in the league in the NHL this regular season and before the break for three weeks for the Winter Olympics in Italy.
"Process was pretty easy, I feel like, but obviously, like I was a little nervous too, because every general manager tries to do the best job for the team, and then it's about years how much all that stuff. You wait pretty long and then get nervous. For me, it was a little tough because I also understand if they didn't give me anything, so I can't go where I want to go.
After the trade went down yesterday, more rumors and news reports on social media came out that shed some light on the other teams that were involved in potential trade talks with the Rangers for Panarin in New York.
"I tried to find a team for myself where I want to be. So, it's kind of about feeling. Obviously, you look at the players and then uh um I was speaking with Gavrikov last couple days a lot so he introduced a great organization, great teammates in there, great spot to live, so it's hard to explain to me. I just want to play for these guys for that organization. Other teams within the list, obviously, too, but I actually did not really want to go anywhere else.
Just obviously nervous a little bit about my next place for living, for playing. So that's like I actually worry about if I can make the right choice, right decision. Like I said before, I picked the teams more about feeling how I feel I want to be there or not. That was hard for me to figure out, where I want to go, where I don't want to go. It's a process, but I can't say it's too bad."
After the trade went down on Wednesday between the Kings in LA and the Rangers from New York, Panarin signed a two-year contract extension deal worth around $11.5 million in average annual value (through the end of the 2026-27 season in the league).
It was a priority for Panarin to importantly get a contract extension deal signed with Holland and the Kings this regular season in the West.
"I don't like to switch teams like kind of just back and forth. I played already for three teams in the NHL. I have two kids, a dog, and a wife, obviously, so it's just too much stuff. And I also feel like I don't want to be rented for a couple months and then go somewhere else. I look for a team who wants me who can sign me right away because they won't rent me for a couple of months."
Panarin has some connections with current Kings players on the active roster lineup for the team. He knows Kings' forward Andrei Kuzmenko from their time playing hockey in Russia together.
"Yeah I met Kuzmenko. We don't have opportunity to talk much but we have couple dinners and when he played in Vancouver so yeah pretty good guy. That's going to be easier for me like when some Russians are on the team too. So just yeah, pull it forward."