Panarin has not played or practiced since January 26th, being held out of the lineup with the New York Rangers, and as a result the Kings are opting not to rush his team debut for either of their remaining two games before the break. The 34-year-old Panarin had a poor start to the 2025-26 season, with just seven points (2G / 5A) in his first 14 games, but has since returned to his elite form and proven he is still one of the top offensive players in the NHL, scoring 50 points (17G / 33A) in his last 38 games. The trade to Los Angeles was quickly accompanied by a two-year, $11 million contract extension.


