Los Angeles Kings
5th in Pacific · 9th in Western Conference
Wed, Feb 25 · 10:00 PM ET · TNT, TruTV, HBO MAX, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet One, TVAS
5th in Pacific · 9th in Western Conference
Wed, Feb 25 · 10:00 PM ET · TNT, TruTV, HBO MAX, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet One, TVAS
Artemi Panarin drops a raw, heartfelt note to the Rangers and their fans after the blockbuster trade to Los Angeles, thanking them for seven unforgettable years in the Big Apple. The Bread Man, who wielded his no-move clause like a veto stamp to land with the Kings, already eyes a March showdown back at MSG with nerves and excitement. Kings GM Ken Holland locked him up with a two-year extension right away, signaling they're building around Panarin's elite playmaking for a deep playoff push.
Chris Drury's Letter 2.0 has MSG buzzing like a locker room after a bad road loss, with only Shesterkin and Fox safe from the trade block. The Rangers restart against Philly on Thursday, packing four games before the March 6 deadline, and whispers from front offices point to a fire sale that builds on Panarin's exit to LA and Soucy's trip to Long Island.
Steven Stamkos maps his next move as trade rumors heat up around the league's deadline frenzy. The Kings zero in on Thomas while circling the Stanley Cup sweepstakes, signaling LA brass wants proven snipers to punch up their attack. Front-office whispers suggest Stamkos holds all the cards in a market where contenders pay top dollar for game-breakers who deliver in May.
The Canadiens hit the ice in Brossard without their captain Nick Suzuki and powerhouse winger Juraj Slafkovsky, who both logged heavy minutes carrying their Olympic squads deep into the tournament. Martin St-Louis tests fresh line combos with the likes of Demidov-Newhook-Laine and Gallagher-Danault-Anderson, knowing these stars will shake up the lineup soon enough.
Kent Hughes holds all the cards with Patrik Laine's lethal power-play shot back in play after the Olympic break, and the Los Angeles Kings just stepped up as a serious suitor. Laine's $8.7 million cap hit looks like a steal for a team needing that elite trigger pull in the top nine, especially since Montreal aims to shed salary for a playoff push. Whispers from front offices suggest multiple clubs inquired pre-break, but LA's interest carries real weight with just 11 days to the deadline.
The Los Angeles Kings are 5th in the Pacific Division with a 23-19-14 record (60 points). Key injuries include Mikey Anderson (Upper Body, IR), Anze Kopitar (Lower Body, IR), Trevor Moore (Upper Body, IR), totaling $15.32M on injured reserve.