LA Kings rely on Artemi Panarin to push team into playoffs as star forward makes an emotional return against Rangers

The Los Angeles Kings are hoping that the newly acquired forward Artemi Panarin will provide the offensive spark needed to push toward the NHL playoffs after their winger's emotional return to the New York Rangers.Panarin will face his former club, the New York Rangers, after six weeks of being traded to Los Angeles. The 34-year-old spent more than six seasons with the Rangers before the team decided to move him as part of a roster retooling earlier this year. According to the NHL, he was traded by the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings after signing a two-year, $22 million contract, with an average annual value of $11 million.

Panarin, who was in the last year of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2019. However, in 2025, he waived his full no-movement clause to join the Kings.

Kings are counting on Artemi Panarin to lead the playoff push after an emotional New York return

Los Angeles Kings forward Artemi Panarin will face an emotional return to Madison Square Garden against his former team, the New York Rangers, with LA banking on the players' scoring prowess for a playoff push.According to TSN, Panarin has recorded 12 points in his first 10 games with his new team.

It is to be noted that the Kings were three points away from the second and final wild card spot in the West before he arrived, and are just one out after losing at New Jersey on Saturday night.The LA Kings are banking on him due to his sheer brilliant performance and playmaking abilities. The 34-year-old star winger led the Rangers in scoring every season since joining them on a seven-year, $81.5 million contract as the top free agent on the market in 2019.

Meanwhile, speaking about the game, Panarin stated, “I tried to be without expectations. I think it’s better than what I expected. The team is better than what I expected. We have pretty good forwards, defensemen, goalies. Looking forward, I’m pretty excited.”In fact, the Kings' management believes the veteran winger’s experience and creativity will add major value to their team. Asserting the same, the interim head coach of the Kings, D.

J. Smith said, “He’s been in the league a long time, and we know what he can do. I think as a coach, you have to play to your players’ strengths. And for me to be harping on him 24/7 about things, it’s only going to take away from his strengths. We’re going to let him be creative.

Obviously, we want him to be responsible, but we need him to provide offense for us.”Earlier reports suggest that Panarin was one of the Rangers’ most productive players before the trade, recording 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 52 games this season, and his incredible scoring ability and playmaking skills are expected to address a major weakness for the Kings this season.