LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Artemi Panarin

With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Artemi Panarin!

Artemi Panarin

Birthdate: October 30, 1991

Birthplace: Korkino, Russia

Height: 6’0

Weight: 176 lbs

Position: Left wing

Shoots: Right

Draft: Undrafted

2025-26 season

Rather than beginning the season as a King, Artemi Panarin was a New York Ranger. Before the start of the season, Panarin was around or well above a point-per-game pace over the last eight seasons; the 2025-26 season was no different. While the Rangers struggled as a team, Panarin piled up the points, posting 57 points in 52 games.

With the Rangers struggling with on-ice results, the front office sent a letter to season-ticket members outlining a retooling plan. In the final season of his seven-year contract, Panarin’s name surfaced as a possible trade deadline candidate.

As multiple teams were vying for his services, it was the Kings who ultimately landed the Breadman from Broadway in February before the Olympic break, sending prospect Liam Greentree, a conditional 2026 third-round pick, and a conditional 2028 fourth-round pick. The Rangers also retained 50% of his salary for the remainder of the season. Shortly after the trade was finalized, the Kings and Panarin agreed to a two-year extension, keeping him in Hollywood for an additional two seasons.

Upon his arrival in Los Angeles, Panarin was just as advertised. The newcomer posted 27 points in 26 games and recorded the primary assist on Kopitar’s 1,308th career point to set a new franchise mark as the all-time points leader on March 14th, 2026. In four playoff games, Panarin recorded three points, all on the power play.

2026-27 outlook

Kings fans will get a full season of Panarin and should expect to see him on the top line and power play unit, with him being the possible go-to on the power play. Personally, I would like to see him play on a line with Adrian Kempe on the opposite wing and Quinton Byfield down the middle.

Having been a point-per-game player for the last nine seasons having a career-best 120-point season in Peter Laviolette’s system three years ago in New York, it’s safe to assume Panarin should be the team’s leading scorer and a point-per-game player if you like to betting person.

Panarin needs 26 points to reach 1,000 and 12 power-play points to reach 300 in his career. If he pots 30 goals, that would definitely be a lot of carbs for the Kings’ offense.

Featured image credit: Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

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