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The New York Rangers have finally made the move on a trade involving Artemi Panarin.
The Rangers are sending Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional third-round pick and prospect Liam Greentree, according to ESPN.
The writing has been on the wall for a Panarin deal, with the Rangers struggling at 22-28-6 this season and the veteran left-winger having just one year left on his contract. Panarin’s deal carried an $11.642 million average annual value entering the season, and he is set for free agency after the year.
With this trade, the Kings already have an extension in place – a sticking point with Panarin and his team, given their control in this process. ESPN reported an $11 million average annual value over two years.
Panarin also told the Rangers that Los Angeles was the destination he wanted.
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The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals were among teams interested in reaching a deal with New York for Panarin.
Panarin, 34, was reportedly looking for a deal close to $50 million, and some teams might not have been willing to get the job done there if it didn’t make sense on their books.
But the Kings piqued the Russian All-Star’s interest, and he joins a team gunning for a playoff spot out of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.
The Kings are 23-17-14 this season, tied for the most overtime losses with the Vegas Golden Knights — the leader of the Pacific Division with 64 points. The Kings are just behind at 60 points.
This next chapter for Panarin marks the end of a seven-year stint with the Rangers, who were unable to reach the Stanley Cup despite recent success. Panarin was a key piece in that, including a 120-point 2023-24 campaign where New York won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record.
The Rangers fell to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games that season.
This season, Panarin has scored 19 goals with 38 assists for 57 points despite the Rangers’ woes.
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