The Los Angeles Kings acquired winger Artemi Panarin ahead of the Olympic Trade Freeze on Wednesday, February 4th. Panarin was signed to a two-year extension beginning on July 1, 2026, at $11 million per season.
In his first eight months on the job, GM Ken Holland has made more aggressive moves than Rob Blake did as GM. The Kings needed a scoring winger, given their issues as a counterpunching team. Hopefully, Panarin can provide the offence the Kings need to get into the playoffs.
But with the scoring winger need filled, the next job for Kings GM Ken Holland is to get a center. As Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period told Sirius XM NHL Network Radio, when asked about what the next pressing need is for this club.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
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Dennis Bernstein: “It (Panarin’s extension) doesn’t put pressure on them (the Kings) this season, so Kenny Holland can do his work, and there’s work to be done. Make no mistake about it. It does not stamp them as a Stanley Cup contender today. They do need to make moves where it needs is, logically, in the middle.
Anze Kopitar retires next season. Byfield’s had a challenging season. You really don’t have a 2C behind this team. So what would you, what would that mean from a trade aspect? Although they lost (Liam) Greentree might make it more difficult. Robert Thomas a 2C behind, or maybe even a 1C, and see where Byfield is at? Or do you go make a move? They do have some cap space. Do you go get a Vincent Trocheck, who would fit in nicely as well?
So the work that Kenny Holland has to do has to be in the middle. Now, they got a break, not a break here but, but the kid on the fourth line, Sami Helenius, the big 6’6″ Finn. He started developing to a quality 4C. He really is and scored a couple of goals. He’s not afraid to take a shot. He’s big and needs to be a little bit more physical.
The key is Alex Turcotte. He really hasn’t developed the way they thought they would, so that puts the onus on them to go get center so they could do it in season. But I think the work is probably going to come in the offseason. But they do need to shore up the center position if they want to get to the level of a true contender in the West?”
Besides Vincent Trocheck, who may not want to go to the West Coast and, from the sounds of it, does not want to, the Kings could look at Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken, if they want go the trade route. Could they sign Nick Schmaltz in free agency and make another move? That is another possibility.
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But the Los Angeles Kings need a center now that the scoring winger piece is filled.”
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