Artemi Panarin Traded to Los Angeles Kings for Liam Greentree, Two Conditional Draft Picks

After being held out of the New York Rangers lineup for the last four games, Artemi Panarin has officially been traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The 34-year old winger finishes his Rangers tenure with 57 points in 52 games in the final season of the seven year contract he signed in the summer of 2019.

Panarin ranks 45th on the all time list for games played as a Ranger, 14th in goals, eighth in assists, and ninth in points. In total, Panarin has played 804 career games in the NHL, collecting a total of 927 points (321 goals and 606 assists). Not bad for an undrafted player. He joins a Kings team that currently sits just outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference standings with 60 points on the season. The Seattle Kraken and Utah Mammoth have 61 and 62 points respectively with one or two more games played

In return, the Rangers get a former first round draft pick in Liam Greentree (26th overall in 2024) as well as a conditional third and fourth round draft pick.

Greentree is a left handed winger that can play either side and clocks in at 6-3, 216 pounds. He currently has 45 points in 34 games with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL this season. Greentree is fresh off a 119 point season the year prior and had 90 points in the 2022-23 season. The 20-year old is in the first year of his entry-level contract with an AAV of $942,500.

This is a prospect that projects to be a middle-six winger and is regarded for his strong shot and puck handling abilities. There are some limitations and concerns with his game as he's not the strongest skater or much of a defensive weapon.

Here is what Roberto and I had to say about him during our 2024 Mock Draft Series:

The captain of his team this past season proved that he can be the man and drive play after several key contributors left in last year’s offseason. While being a well rounded player with several strong traits about his game, none of them particularly stand out making him more of a late first rounder in many team’s eyes. - Roberto (projected 29th overall)

Greentree is a tough player to project because he has qualities that can land him high in the first round but some red flags that could push him closer to round two. He’s a big body that can get to the dirty areas and score goals as a result. He’s also a creative puck handler and can make really tricky, highlight real plays. He’s coming off a pair of really good seasons in the OHL. He’s a left-handed shot that can play either wing. He screams Vegas Golden Knights to me. - Chris (projected 19th overall)

The return overall is not the greatest for the Rangers but according to Mollie Walker of The New York Post, the Kings are the only team Panarin wanted to go to. The third becomes a second if the Kings win a playoff round this year. There is also a conditional fourth round pick in the 2028 draft in the cards if the Kings win two playoff rounds.

The Rangers will also retain 50% of Panarin's cap hit for the remainder of the season. Within a half hour of the trade being announced, the Kings have signed Panarin to a two-year, $11 million extension.