The Los Angeles Kings acquired winger Artemi Panarin forward of the Olympic Commerce Freeze on Wednesday, February 4th. Panarin was signed to a two-year extension starting on July 1, 2026, at $11 million per season.
In his first eight months on the job, GM Ken Holland has made extra aggressive strikes than Rob Blake did as GM. The Kings wanted a scoring winger, given their points as a counterpunching crew. Hopefully, Panarin can present the offence the Kings must get into the playoffs.
However with the scoring winger want stuffed, the subsequent job for Kings GM Ken Holland is to get a middle. As Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Interval informed Sirius XM NHL Community Radio, when requested about what the subsequent urgent want is for this membership.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
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Dennis Bernstein: “It (Panarin’s extension) doesn’t put stress on them (the Kings) this season, so Kenny Holland can do his work, and there’s work to be carried out. Make no mistake about it. It doesn’t stamp them as a Stanley Cup contender at the moment. They do must make strikes the place it wants is, logically, within the center.
Anze Kopitar retires subsequent season. Byfield’s had a difficult season. You actually don’t have a 2C behind this crew. So what would you, what would that imply from a commerce side? Though they misplaced (Liam) Greentree would possibly make it tougher. Robert Thomas a 2C behind, or perhaps even a 1C, and see the place Byfield is at? Or do you go make a transfer? They do have some cap house. Do you go get a Vincent Trocheck, who would slot in properly as nicely?
So the work that Kenny Holland has to do needs to be within the center. Now, they acquired a break, not a break right here however, however the child on the fourth line, Sami Helenius, the large 6’6″ Finn. He began growing to a top quality 4C. He actually is and scored a few targets. He’s not afraid to take a shot. He’s huge and must be somewhat bit extra bodily.
The secret is Alex Turcotte. He actually hasn’t developed the best way they thought they might, in order that places the onus on them to go get middle so they may do it in season. However I believe the work might be going to come back within the offseason. However they do must shore up the middle place in the event that they need to get to the extent of a real contender within the West?”
Apart from Vincent Trocheck, who could not need to go to the West Coast and, from the sounds of it, doesn’t need to, the Kings might have a look at Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken, if they need go the commerce route. May they signal Nick Schmaltz in free company and make one other transfer? That’s one other chance.
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However the Los Angeles Kings want a middle now that the scoring winger piece is stuffed.”
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