With less than an hour to go before the NHL’s roster freeze for the Winter Olympics, Kings GM Ken Holland pulled off a significant trade with the Rangers. In exchange for top prospect Liam Greentree and a pair of conditional draft picks Holland landed the biggest fish on the market — Artemi Panarin.
The 34-year-old winger scored 29, 49, and 37 goals over the past three seasons in New York. With 19 goals this season, he’s on pace for about 30. Additionally, his 57 points in 52 games played have him on track for a point-per-game campaign for the ninth straight time.
Panarin is also a right shot, something desperately needed in coach Jim Hiller’s lineup.
The Kings have been in the thick of the playoff race all season long, but due to underwhelming offense, have struggled to score enough to win games consistently. Despite that, they sit just four points out of first place.
More impressively, Holland was able to accomplish the deal without giving up any player on the current roster, despite reports that New York was interested in guys like Alex Laferriere. In what is Holland’s first big move as GM of the team, the Kings just became a whole lot more dangerous.
Trade
To #GOKINGSGO
Artemi Panarin, Yr 7/7 $11.6M 50% retained-UFA
To #NYR
Liam Greentree, '24 #26 Pick, Yr 1/3 $943K
'26 3rd Round Pick (becomes 2nd if LA wins 1 playoff round)
'28 4th if LA wins 2 playoff rounds
LAK adds $5.8M annual cap hit – $2.2M for remainder of year
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) February 4, 2026
Holland will meet with the media before tonight’s game vs. the Kraken to address the trade and other topics.
This trade should bring instant relief, in terms of adding a true offensive threat, something the Kings have been wanting to add for several seasons.
In return, the Kings gave up their top forward prospect in Greentree. He’s been heating up again over the past few weeks, as featured in the article below. The first-round pick is expected to turn pro this summer, leaving OHL Windsor after his fourth season of junior hockey.
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