Feb. 4 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Kings agreed to a trade for New York Rangers All-Star forward Artemi Panarin.
Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and the New York Post on Wednesday that the Kings agreed to send the Rangers prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round draft pick in the swap.
Panarin, who was set to become a free agent, also signed a two-year, $22 million contract extension with the Kings. The Rangers will retain 50% if his 2025-26 salary.
The 34-year-old forward totaled 19 goals and 38 assists through his first 52 appearances this season. Panarin logged 321 goals and 606 assists through the first 11 years of his NHL tenure.
He registered a career-high 120 points, with 49 goals and 71 assists, over 82 appearances in 2023-24. Panarin was the Rangers’ leading scorer in five of the last six seasons.
Greentree, 20, was the No. 26 overall pick by the Kings in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Panarin trade came just before the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze, which was put into effect at 3 p.m. EST Wednesday and ends Feb. 22.
The Kings (23-17-14) are 9th in the Western Conference standings. They will host the 8th-place Seattle Kraken (26-20-9) at 10 p.m. Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The Rangers (22-28-6), who are on a three-game losing streak, rank last in the Eastern Conference standings. They will host the second-place Carolina Hurricanes (35-15-6) at 7 p.m. Thursday in New York.