Artemi Panarin made his desire to play for the Los Angeles Kings abundantly clear during his first press conference as a member of the team.
Artemi Panarin made his desire to play for the Los Angeles Kings abundantly clear during his first press conference as a member of the team.
“I’d probably go back to Russia if LA [didn’t] give me anything,” he said with a laugh.
Panarin said this tongue-in-cheek, but throughout his remarks, he repeatedly emphasized that Los Angeles was his preferred destination, a claim backed up by reports that he turned down more money from other teams such as the Seattle Kraken to sign a two-year, $22 million dollar extension with the Kings.
“I just want to play for these guys, for that organization,” he said. “Other teams [were on] the list, obviously, too, but I actually [didn’t] really want to go anywhere else.”
“I think if [Kings general manager Ken Holland knew] that, he’d give me [$5 million], probably.”
Panarin had previously discussed extending with the New York Rangers, but their offer made him question how much they truly wanted him to stay. As the team struggled, the two sides worked together to trade him, during which time he talked to former Kings and current Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov about Los Angeles.
“I try to find a team for myself, where I want to be,” Panarin said. “So it’s kind of about feeling. Obviously, you look at the players, and then I was [speaking] with Gavrikov the last couple days, a lot. So he introduced LA, a great organization, great teammates there. Obviously, great spot to live.”
In contrast to the Rangers’ pivot to a future without Panarin, the Kings’ offer of an extension showed their commitment to him.
“I don’t want to be rented, like, for a couple months and then go somewhere else,” he said. “I just look for a team, like, ‘Who wants me? Who can sign me right away?’ Because, they’re just not [renting] me for a couple months.”
Panarin will not join the Kings immediately, as they are on the road tonight to take on the Vegas Golden Knights. Once their Olympic break begins tomorrow, he’ll begin reaching out to his new teammates and coaches and adjusting to his new setting. He can also use that time to get back up to speed, as he hasn’t played a game in over a week.
“It’s probably perfect timing for me for [switching teams], when Olympics break [starts],” he said. “It [gives] you some time for meeting with the guys, and then just have a couple of practices together before you play. Usually, it’s happening in the season, and guys, they’re playing [the] next day, somewhere else.”
If everything goes according to plan, Panarin should debut with the Kings on Wednesday, Feb. 25, also against the Golden Knights, paying off weeks of anticipation for both himself and the Kings organization and fanbase.
Category: General Sports
