Artemi Panarin Trade: Fantasy Winners, Losers and Next Moves

Artemi Panarin landing with the Los Angeles Kings is exactly the kind of late-season shakeup that can swing fantasy leagues. An elite winger with proven scoring touch joins a team starving for more offense and power-play punch. That means new linemates, new pecking orders, and clear deployment winners and losers. Here’s how to react before your league mates do.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The Kings have struggled to score and convert on the man advantage, often leaning on a five-forward power-play look without getting the payoff they wanted. Now they add Artemi Panarin, a top-six winger with PP1 usage baked into his role and a profile built on high-end shot velocity and perimeter creation.

Panarin’s arrival gives Los Angeles another true offensive driver to slot alongside players like Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala. The Kings can now ice at least two dangerous scoring lines and a much more threatening top power-play unit. For fantasy, that means:

More quality looks for Kempe and Fiala off Panarin’s feeds.
Greater likelihood the Kings’ PP1 finally converts at a respectable rate.
Elevated insulation and development environment for younger pieces like Quinton Byfield.

The biggest macro impact: Los Angeles forwards become more attractive fantasy assets across almost all formats, and Panarin’s path to scoring opportunities arguably improves versus his previous situation, given how heavily the Kings will lean on him.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

Panarin is the headline winner. He arrives as the unquestioned offensive centerpiece: top six, top power play, and likely first option when the Kings need a goal. On a team that already wants to run a forward-heavy PP1, his perimeter playmaking and shot threat should run through most of their set plays. Expect him to touch the puck constantly in the offensive zone, which stabilizes his floor and keeps his ceiling elite.

Kempe gets a quiet but meaningful bump. He’s already recognized for his shot volume and release, but has sometimes had to manufacture his own chances. Playing with Panarin at even strength or on the power play shifts him more into a finishing role. Fewer low-quality shots, more looks from prime areas set up by an elite passer – that’s how you turn a streaky scorer into a more reliable point producer.

Fiala benefits in a similar way, but for slightly different reasons. His midrange shooting game fits nicely with Panarin’s ability to draw defenders high and wide. When Panarin attacks from the perimeter, it can open pockets in the slot and high circles where Fiala thrives. If Fiala sticks with Panarin on either the top line or on PP1, his assist ceiling and goal potential both rise.

Byfield is more of a slow-burn winner. He’s not guaranteed to be glued to Panarin at all times, but simply having a winger of this caliber in the mix raises the quality of any line combinations he might see. In points-only leagues with deeper benches, a modest minutes bump plus better linemates could turn him from replacement-level depth into a viable streaming or stash option.

Categories / Bangers

In multicategory formats, Panarin’s primary gains come via upticks in goals, assists, and power-play production. If the Kings’ power play jumps from liability to asset, his PPP totals can spike. Even with limited contributions in hits or blocks, raw volume in scoring categories can make him a top-tier piece.

Kempe is a big winner here. He already brings strong shot volume and some physicality; now, more of those shots could be quality looks generated off Panarin’s plays. More goals and shots plus steady peripherals is the blueprint for a strong multi-cat winger. If your format rewards SOG, PPP, and occasional grit, Kempe’s profile improves significantly.

Fiala remains more skill-first than banger, but he can still help you in shots and power-play categories. Think of the trade as an opportunity for him to convert more of his existing volume into production rather than a massive role change. If he sticks in the top six and PP1, he’s a very comfortable hold with mild upside.

Byfield is still a watch in categories leagues. The hope is that playing with or behind top-end talent accelerates his confidence and usage, eventually adding more shots, some hits, and occasional PP touches. For now, he’s more of a speculative peripheral contributor than a must-roster piece.

Dynasty / Keeper

From a long-term lens, Panarin’s value is mostly reaffirmed rather than reinvented. Moving to Los Angeles should extend his window as a high-end fantasy winger by placing him in a system that clearly needs and will feature his offensive strengths. That stability is reassuring for managers weighing big multi-asset trades.

The most interesting dynasty angle is Byfield. He’s categorized as a developing center, and few things help a young pivot more than daily reps with elite linemates and a functioning power play. Even if he doesn’t immediately join Panarin on the top unit, practicing and playing alongside a winger with such a refined offensive toolkit can sharpen his reads and offensive instincts. For rebuilding teams, this trade is a small but meaningful plus for Byfield’s trajectory.

Kempe and Fiala, in keeper formats, get a slight nudge up in perceived safety. Their chances of being stapled to relevant deployment (top-six, prime PP usage) are stronger with Panarin in the mix anchoring a high-skill forward group. That reduces risk that future coaching tweaks completely derail their usage.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Artemi Panarin – Trade target (all formats): Aggressively pursue him via trade; his top-six, PP1 role on a team desperate for offense should keep his points and PPP among the league’s better wings. Use the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge fair value.
Adrian Kempe – Add (standard and deeper leagues): Already a strong shooter, Kempe stands to gain from Panarin’s playmaking and improved power-play environment, boosting his goals and shots.
Kevin Fiala – Buy-low or firm hold (points-only and categories): If his manager is lukewarm, this is a good time to buy; Fiala’s midrange scoring pairs nicely with Panarin’s perimeter threat on both lines and PP1.
Quinton Byfield – Watchlist / deep add (dynasty and deep redraft): Track any bump in ice time or PP usage; exposure to Panarin could unlock a higher offensive gear over the next stretch.

Fantasy Takeaways

Panarin is a clear trade target with a potentially expanded offensive role on a Kings team that will lean heavily on his skill.
Kempe becomes more attractive in goal, shot, and PPP-weighted formats thanks to better play-driving support.
Fiala’s outlook improves subtly but meaningfully, with cleaner looks and more dangerous power-play setups.
Byfield is a dynasty riser worth stashing or at least closely monitoring for deployment gains.
Overall, Kings forwards get a fantasy upgrade as the power play and top six should be more productive down the stretch.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.