Is Artemi Panarin the Final Piece to the LA Kings Playoff Puzzle?
A trade that nobody saw coming.
A trade the media saw as a learning curve, but not for the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings acquired forward Artemi Panarin in a blockbuster move that quickly made waves through the league.
While the price to acquire him was much lower, the Kings now have an offensive machine that can help in many areas.
The question is, is he the missing piece, or will there be more moves?
Kings GM Ken Holland wanted to be aggressive in terms of a playoff spot. However, Los Angeles has not played well. He saw what he had in the first half of the season and knew his team needed a jolt. Then he acquired Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick. Los Angeles now had their guy and did not give up much. Panarin will help the offense get back on track and also help the power play, which has struggled. The Kings do not have to worry about him becoming a free agent, as they also signed him to a two-year extension.
Losing Greentree is a big blow to the prospect pipeline. They will miss him, but they are focused on getting the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles now, which leads us to wonder if Holland is done. The forward group could use another piece, the defense may need a piece, and Holland may want to take a look at the goaltending situation. Getting a big-time piece like Panarin may be enough to get this team back on track.
This season, Panarin has 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) and is the Rangers’ top scorer. His 57 points would lead the Kings in scoring, with forward Adrian Kempe second with 46 points.
Speculation has arisen about where Panarin will play, and the likely spot would be on the top line with captain Anze Kopitar and Kempe. This move also adds depth to the current roster. They now have four complete lines that can be dangerous on any night. One issue Los Angeles still has is at the center position. Another solid center who can score and play a two-way game could put this team back into contention quickly.
One thing Holland could do is try to restock the prospect pool and acquire picks and young talent. Losing Greentree put a big hole in the prospect pool, and he needs to be replaced.
Those players are not easy to come by, and Los Angeles could part with some key pieces to get deals done.
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Categorized:Kings