The Los Angeles Kings have had an up-and-down season in 2025-26. They currently have a 20-16-13 record and are sixth in the Pacific Division. However, they are also only two points behind the third-place Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division, so their playoff hopes are certainly still alive.
However, with the Kings having their struggles, it is clear that they would benefit by adding another star to their roster. Adding another top-six forward, in particular, would be big for an LA club looking to get into the playoffs.
Now, the Kings are being viewed as a possible landing spot for one of the NHL’s top trade candidates.
During the most recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman brought up the possibility of Panarin and Los Angeles being a potential match. The Hockey News raised the same possibility.
