The Los Angeles Kings and new general manager Ken Holland made a wonderful move on the trade freeze block on Wednesday (Feb. 4) to get star forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers for a pretty cheap cost and a contract extension deal signing today. It looks like Panarin wanted to come to the Kings to play in Los Angeles this regular season in the Pacific Division in the West.
Los Angeles Kings could have to wait a few weeks to see new star forward Artemi Panarin suiting up in a Kings uniform in the West
He signed a two-year contract extension deal worth around $11.5 million in average annual value (through the end of the 2026-27 season with the Kings in LA). It makes sense that the Kings will have to be patient to see Panarin suit up in practice and the team skate for the Kings this regular season in the Pacific Division.
I think that this was a great move for the Kings to get over the playoff hump in the postseason this upcoming spring in the Pacific Division in the West. There is also room for Holland and the Kings to go get more players for the active roster lineup on the trade block.
Panarin will join the Kings and start playing for the team after the upcoming three-week break for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy this month in mid-to-late February, per Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. Panarin reportedly has practiced or played a game in the East for the Rangers in New York in this past week in the Metropolitan Division.
Panarin last played a game for the Rangers in the East in New York in late January on Jan. 26 against the Boston Bruins, where he registered an assist and one point in the contest.
Holland said on Wednesday night in a press conference with local media that he's "happy" about the Kings getting to sign Panarin to a contract extension deal with the team today and after the trade.
"We're happy that we were able to get him to a two-year extension and after two years, I'm hoping that we're working on another extension. We'll worry about that down the road."Ken Holland on Artemi Panarin
It looks like Holland and the Kings' front office are committing to win now in the Pacific Division in the West this regular season, after securing the big splash status move of getting Panarin from the Rangers in New York before the roster freeze in the league in the NHL.
"You either compete, or you enter this long-term rebuild. Well, I'm not interested in a long-term rebuild. I think some of the people that we signed are not interested in that, so we're trying to compete."Holland on Panarin