After the Los Angeles Kings failed to make it past the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New York Rangers learned the full return of the Artemi Panarin trade. Being swept by the Avs meant the Kings are out of the postseason and that the Blueshirts miss out on a big upgrade to the draft selection they will receive from LA ahead of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Back in February, the Rangers put an end to the speculation around Panarin and traded “The Breadman” to the Kings. Essentially, it was Panarin (signed to a full no movement clause) who chose Los Angeles, and left New York with no choice but to work out a deal with the organization in the City of Angels. The Kings sent prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round selection in 2026.
As reported by Peter Baugh of The Athletic, the conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft would have become a second-rounder had the Kings won one round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche made sure that didn’t happen. As a result, the Rangers own the 81st overall pick in this year’s draft, courtesy of the Panarin trade with the Kings.
How many picks will NY Rangers have in 2026?
As the Kings’ conditional selection sent to the Rangers is confirmed to be a third-round pick, 81st overall, the Blueshirts have a better understanding of where they will operate in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Artemi Panarin in his first game back in New York
As it stands, New York owns 11 draft picks in 2026—7 of which are in the top 100, including two first-rounders. The Rangers’ own pick in the first round is a lottery pick, meaning they have an 11.5% chance of coming away with the No. 1 selection, which is projected to be Penn State star Gavin McKenna.
Kings’ elimination also costs NY Rangers a 4th rounder
Under the terms agreed upon by both sides in the Panarin trade, New York would have received a second-round pick instead of a third-rounder had Los Angeles won a single playoff round. Moreover, if the Kings had made it past two rounds and reached the Western Conference Final, the Rangers would have been handed an extra fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft.
Realistically, the odds were never on the Kings’ side to make it that far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The fact they entered the postseason as the lowest seed in the entire bracket only made things that much harder. For the Rangers, the fact their draft capital was in the hands of a weak Kings side is only another bad look for Chris Drury and company.
Rangers were left no choice but to trade with Kings
However, the front office had its hands tied, as Panarin made it clear he’d only waive his NMC for a move to Hollywood. Needless to say, Los Angeles was never going to pay a king’s ransom for the “Breadman,” and even if it wanted to go on a deep run, the Wild West’s playoff picture made it clear the Kings were in for a steep climb and an improbable run.
After all, there’s a reason the Kings couldn’t even secure one postseason victory in the 2025–26 NHL season. For the fifth straight year, Los Angeles suffered a first-round exit. The last time it won a playoff series? Back in 2014, when the Kings went all the way to hoist Lord Stanley. Perhaps the Rangers should have known better than to leave trade details up to chance and in the hands of a franchise that can’t shake its postseason woes.
