The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
Los Angeles Kings’ trade deadline moves
In: Artemi Panarin, Scott Laughton, 2026 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, conditional 2026 third-round pick
Out: Warren Foegele, Corey Perry, Liam Greentree, two conditional third-round picks, conditional 2026 third-round pick
Grade: C+
The Kings have been in a win-now direction for several years without winning a single playoff series. Acquiring an elite-level point producer such as Artemi Panarin and signing him to a pricey two-year extension furthers that, but the cost wasn’t exorbitant. GM Ken Holland did well to get a second-round pick for Warren Foegele, who had become a healthy scratch.
He continued to boost his draft capital by getting a second-rounder for Corey Perry, although that’s not until 2028. But Holland then turned around and paid a third-rounder (which could become a second-round) for Scott Laughton, a strong locker-room presence and penalty0killer but a player who won’t move the needle. Are they any better or worse? Probably neither. It’s a bit of mixed signaling from a team very much in transition. — Eric Stephens
What they’re saying
Interim coach D.J. Smith: “It’s a non-negotiable for me, effort. When people come into your building and fans come to your game, they expect to see an effort and it has to be noticeable. We give you plenty of rest. The L.A. Kings give you the best of the best. Food and chefs and everything. You have to go out there,whether it be playing 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 20 minutes. It’s expected that you’re going to give it everything you have, and I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t do that night in, night out.”
What it means for the team’s lineup
As one would expect, the Kings immediately dropped Panarin onto their top line and the 34-year-old left wing has five points in five games. He scored his first goal with L.A. and chipped in an assist Thursday in their 5-3 home win over the New York Islanders to stay in the race for the second wild-card position in the Western Conference.
Laughton addresses their center depth, which has been thinned out as Quinton Byfield has dealt with an injury. Alex Turcotte has jumped in as their 2C so Laughton figures to slot in at 3C even though they have given prospect Kenny Connors a look in that spot. Laughton should jump into their penalty-killing rotation and could serve as a mentor for Connors and Jared Wright, who have provided some much-needed energy for a group that needed it in Jim Hiller’s final days as coach.