It’s common for NHL players to trade gifts for numbers after being traded to a new team. But we might have our first trade involving a mascot.
Artemi Panarin appeared to gift Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey a new watch on Tuesday in exchange for the No. 72 as the duo did a photo shoot for the team’s social-media channels.
Bailey wears the number to represent the average temperature in Los Angeles, while No. 72 was Panarin’s number when he broke into the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. He wore No. 9 with the Columbus Blue Jackets and No. 10 with the New York Rangers.
The Kings acquired Panarin in a trade with the New York Rangers in early February but fans have had to wait nearly three weeks to see him on his new team because of the Olympic break.
He is expected to make his Kings debut on Wednesday at home against the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet+).
The Kings will need Panarin’s boost to the offence after losing scorer Kevin Fiala to a season-ending injury during the Olympics.
Panarin, who also signed a two-year, $22-million contract extension with the Kings after the trade, has 57 points in 52 games this season. No other player on the Kings has cracked 50 points this season.
The Kings return from the break three points out of a playoff spot in the West with 26 games remaining.
