Artemi Panarin's gut-wrenching announcement after trade to Los Angeles
When forward Artemi Panarin signed in New York, he was one of the premier free agents in 2019. Leaving the Columbus Blue Jackets after sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first-round, he was highly coveted, and he chose to seek greener pastures after all was said and done.
His friend Sergei Bobrovsky would exercise his rights to escape to Florida. The difference between the two is that Bobrovsky has two Stanley Cups to his name, while Panarin has nothing but disappointment to add to the conversation after 6 seasons in New York.
He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings by general manager Chris Drury for forward Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 3rd-round pick, which could become a 2nd if the Kings win a round in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The notion of Panarin leaving his long-term home in the Big Apple was addressed by Newsday's Colin Stephenson, who asked the Russian superstar if he considered circling back to GM Chris Drury after all was said and done.
You can just hear the sadness in the response.
Panarin was asked if he circled back to the Rangers when LA only offered a two-year extension. “They didn’t want me,” he said.
— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) March 12, 2026
For Better or Worse? The Rangers after the deadline
The West has seen a shake-up in the status quo, with Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of the season, and Artemi Panarin will need to grab the brass ring to make this trade worth it.
