The TSN Hockey Insiders discuss how the Artemi Panarin deal came together between the Rangers and Kings ahead of the Olympic roster freeze, the Maple Leafs using the break to figure out their next step, the NHL and NHLPA meeting to discuss potential World Cup of Hockey sites for 2028, and more.
Kings’ patience pays off in getting Artemi Panarin
Schiiler: Here are your insiders - Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun, and Darren Dreger.
Well, the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze came and went on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and boy, did this one come down to the wire. Pierre, the biggest name goes off the board, Artemi Panarin to Los Angeles. How did this deal all come together?
LeBrun: Well, let’s look at it from the LA Kings’ perspective. You may remember when we talked about LA as part of this last week. We talked about the fact that they weren’t chasing this as much as trying to hang in on this conversation to see where it went. Because there was interest in the player, although certainly their No. 1 need is to go get a centre next summer to replace Anze Kopitar.
And I think the patience of a longtime GM in Ken Holland paid off here, because that’s what he did. He didn’t chase this as much as let the deal come to him. And boy, did it ever in the final moments, because LA is a team that Panarin and his agent Paul Theofanous indicated to the Rangers in the final hours that they’d be the only team they would waive or no-move to.
But the big part here and the reaction from other NHL teams was, wow, only a two-year extension. How did the Kings get that done? That’s the topper here for LA is that it’s not a four-year extension. It’s not a five-year extension. It’s two years times $11 million a year. And that’s the real cherry on the sundae for the LA Kings. Makes a whole lot of sense for them.
Rangers’ lack of leverage hurt Panarin return
Johnston: I think when people look at this from the Rangers’ side of the equation and trading a superstar player out the door, the return seems light on the surface. Third- and fourth-round picks conditionally and a prospect in Liam Greentree. And there’s a good reason for that. Because of what Pierre mentioned, the no-movement clause that Artemi Panarin held, that really restricted what the Rangers could do. But I think this is still a positive development for New York.
First of all, general manager Chris Drury, he basically set the terms from this a week ago. They started holding Panarin out of the lineup. They gave his agent the ability to talk to other teams and work through the process in terms of that extension and come back to them to get this done before the Olympics. Because remember, the Rangers have a number of other players that they’re going to be looking to move before the March 6 trade deadline. By getting this deal done now, they like Greentree, they think that’s a win in terms of him as a prospect. They can move on to other trades when we get to the other side of the Olympic roster freeze.
Leafs will use Olympic break to gauge next steps
Schiiler: Darren, the Toronto Maple Leafs just wrapped up a three-game win streak in Western Canada. Does this recent streak for the Leafs change anything in terms of their approach as we get closer to the trade deadline?
Dreger: No, it doesn’t. And we need to be mindful of this. It’s not win one or win two or win three and then lose a couple and gauge where you’re at, at that point. It’s all about what is the return and having the right partner if you’re going to execute a trade.
And so Brad Treliving over the next three weeks, the Olympic break, is going to continue to gauge the interest, particularly in the pending unrestricted free agents that the Toronto Maple Leafs own, but also other pieces around the organization as well. He’ll then also talk to player agents representing primarily the pending UFAs, to pair the contract extension numbers versus what he might get via trade.
So it’s not just Toronto. I mean, Toronto has a lot going on right now. Certainly, we’ll have a lot coming out of the break. But you look at Winnipeg, you look at Calgary, you look at Vancouver, all Canadian clubs with big decisions to be made.
NHL players start arriving in Milan before opening ceremony
Schiiler: Meanwhile, Chris, there are 17 NHL games still to be played between Wednesday and Thursday night. But some teams like the Leafs, they’re done till closer to the end of the month. So what’s the plan for the athletes who are heading over to Italy?
Johnston: Well, the vast majority of NHL players are going to take charters. They leave on Saturday. But what I think is interesting is a number of players are going to go ahead, basically using their own time here to get over to Milan early. Now, some of those have official duties at the opening ceremony, which is going to be held on Friday. They include Leon Draisaitl, who’s one of the flag bearers for Germany. David Pastrnak is a flag bearer for Czechia. Some of the Americans are going over as well, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman among them to be part of that ceremony.
But there’s other players, I’m told, as well too that are going to get over there a little early, start adjusting their body clocks, because NHL players have waited a long time for this moment, 12 years since the last time they were at these Games. And so, for a lot of them, this is a first-time opportunity, and they’re getting on the first plane they can over to Italy.
NHL & NHLPA will meet post-Olympics to decide World Cup sites
Dreger: Yeah, and obviously the Olympics are on the front burner for the NHL, the NHLPA, but not too far down the road is the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. The Canadian interest remains strong. You’re talking about Edmonton and Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver. In the U.S., you’ve got Vegas, you’ve got Dallas, you’ve got Tampa Bay, all vying for the North American spot. I’m told that the NHL and the PA will be making that decision, and then the announcement very soon after the Olympics.
Briere attempts to calm waters on Matvei Michkov
Schiiler: Alright, Pierre, and finally, in Philadelphia, there’s been a bit of drama surrounding Matvei Michkov in the last 24 hours or so. Can you clear the air there for us?
LeBrun: Well, Daniel Briere is the one who tried to clear the air, and he hopes that he has with his impromptu news conference before the game on Tuesday night. And I think this was Flyers management saying enough is enough. So much was being said about on social media, especially about the treatment of Michkov, whether they were ruining their prized young player, all kinds of things.
And I think the Flyers felt it important to clarify that, they still believe in this young guy. Danny Briere was clear in saying he’s not trading this guy. He’s going to be a Flyer for a long time. And yes, obviously he did not show up, like we said before, on Insider Trading, he did not show up ready for this season. He’s owned up to that, but he’s working hard to make amends to that. It’s a tough sophomore slump for Michkov, but he’s going to be a Flyer for a long time. And Daniel Briere hopes we’re done talking about this.
Schiiler: That’s the final edition of Insider Trading before that Olympic break. Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun, and Darren Dreger.
