Artemi Panarin admits he had his sights set on Hollywood, insisting Thursday that he “didn’t want to go anywhere else” after it was clear he would not be re-signed by the Rangers.
One day after agreeing to waive his no-movement clause with the Blueshirts to facilitate a trade to Los Angeles, Panarin said he “tried to find a team for myself that was where I wanted to be.”
That new team is the Kings, who signed the potential free agent to a two-year contract extension worth $22 million after sending forward prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional draft pick to the Rangers.
“Six-and-a-half seasons is a pretty long time [to be in New York]. … A lot of good memories, a couple [Eastern] Conference finals. It was a great group of guys,” Panarin told reporters Thursday on a Zoom call. “I was pretty proud to wear [the Rangers’] jersey. And thank you to the fans. I have to make a video, actually.”
Artemi Panarin is pictured during the Rangers’ Jan. 26 game against the Bruins. Charles Wenzelberg
The 34-year-old Panarin stressed that due to his wife and two children, he “didn’t want to be rented for a couple months, then go somewhere else” in free agency.
“I don’t know if I should say [this], but I feel like the [Rangers’] contract offer said, like, ‘We’re not sure if we want you or not,’ ” Panarin said.
Panarin, the Rangers’ leading scorer in each of his seven seasons with the team, said he sought and received an endorsement of the Kings from Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who played in Los Angeles for parts of the previous three seasons.
Injured defenseman Adam Fox took part again in the team’s optional morning skate with a red noncontact jersey, and Mike Sullivan hopes both Fox and goalie Igor Shesterkin could be ready to return when play resumes following the Olympic break Feb. 26 against the Flyers.
“I do. I’m optimistic,” Sullivan said. “I think they’re getting closer. They’re both skating. Shesty hasn’t officially joined the team yet, but he’s been skating. Foxy has had a number of skates with the team and is knocking on the door. So I would anticipate them a whole lot closer.”
The two All-Stars suffered lower-body injuries in the same game Jan. 5 against the Mammoth.
Brennan Othmann was scratched Thursday, making him eligible to be assigned to AHL Hartford over the break because he didn’t appear in at least 16 of the team’s final 20 games.
Defenseman Scott Morrow also did not play.
