In a significant move just before the Olympic break, Artemi Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, ending widespread speculation about the assets the New York Rangers would receive in return. While the Rangers initially sought top young forwards like Will Smith from the San Jose Sharks or Ryan Leonard from the Washington Capitals, the final deal sent prospect Liam Greentree and conditional draft selections back to New York. This Artemi Panarin trade return adds promising pieces to the Rangers’ prospect pool amid a complex market landscape.
Profile of Prospect Liam Greentree
Liam Greentree, a right wing for the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), stands out as a power-forward type player with notable physical presence at 6’3″ and 216 pounds. Selected 26th overall by the Kings in the 2024 NHL Draft, Greentree posted 45 points (23 goals, 22 assists) across 35 games in the 2025-26 season. Currently captaining the Spitfires, Greentree combines elite hockey sense and puck skills with a playing style marked by strength and offensive creativity.
Strengths That Make Greentree a Valuable Addition
Greentree’s abilities suggest a strong professional outlook. At his best, he projects as a skilled top-six winger who can serve both as a facilitator and a dangerous goal scorer, underpinned by a sharp wrist shot and clever puck handling. His game intelligence allows him to navigate opponent pressure fluidly and create scoring opportunities both for himself and teammates. Defensively, Greentree demonstrates full commitment, excelling in backchecking, breaking up plays with his stick, and using his physicality effectively.
At 20 years old, Greentree’s status as a developed prospect ready to potentially transition into the NHL sooner than unselected first-round draft picks added appeal to the Rangers. While lacking the fireworks that might come from a blockbuster return, this trade reflects the Rangers’ attempt to balance opportunity and limitation given that Panarin was reportedly willing to be traded only to the Kings. In this context, Greentree represents a meaningful asset rather than a dynamic game-changer.
Areas Where Greentree Needs Improvement
Skating remains Greentree’s most conspicuous challenge. During his draft year, EliteProspects rated his skating at 4.5, significantly lower than his other attributes such as hockey sense, shooting, and passing, all graded near 7. While he has made progress since then—exhibiting improved speed bursts and the strength to push through opponents—Greentree still requires enhanced acceleration and top-end speed to separate himself at the NHL level. Improving skating is crucial to complement his playmaking talents, which rely on controlling the pace of the game effectively.
Additional development opportunities include refining his puck-carrying during rushes and improving one-on-one battles. Notably, his production rate has declined following an outstanding junior season with 119 points, a trajectory common when players continue in major junior leagues post-draft rather than progressing to professional levels like the AHL. The existing CHL-NHL agreement prevented such a move this season, which might have impacted his growth.
Details and Expectations Regarding Conditional Picks
The trade also includes two conditional draft picks, currently positioned as third and fourth-round selections but subject to change depending on the Kings’ playoff performance. The third-round pick will be the better of the Kings’ two third-round picks, and if the Kings advance through one playoff round, it upgrades to a second-round pick. A further playoff round win would add another fourth-round pick in 2028 to the Rangers’ assets.
While complex conditions govern these picks, the Rangers stand to gain modest to moderate value depending on outcomes. A third-round pick offers typical middle-round uncertainty, while a second-rounder elevates the prospect pool with strong draft potential. The added 2028 fourth-round pick is more speculative, likely to be bundled in future transactions before actual use. Ultimately, aside from Greentree, these picks represent incremental opportunities rather than high-impact assets.
Looking Ahead: Impact and Challenges for the Rangers
This trade underscores the difficult balancing act the Rangers faced in securing return value for an elite player like Panarin under specific market constraints. Liam Greentree adds a promising but imperfect prospect to their developmental ranks, bringing both skill and growth needs within an organization that recently has struggled to consistently develop prospects into NHL contributors. Meanwhile, the conditional picks offer some flexibility but no guaranteed infusion of star talent.
The Rangers’ front office will need to carefully support Greentree’s progression, particularly focusing on his skating and offensive consistency, to maximize the return from this deal. Meanwhile, tracking the Kings’ playoff performance will determine the full extent of the draft assets acquired. This Artemi Panarin trade return highlights the challenges teams face trading high-impact veterans in tightly negotiating markets, where mitigating losses sometimes takes precedence over landing blockbuster prospects.
