Right before the roster freeze went into effect, the New York Rangers made headlines by trading star forward Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. Fans immediately questioned the return, wondering how the Rangers weren’t able to get more back for a player of Panarin’s caliber. However, with the lack of leverage they had in trade negotiations, with Panarin only willing to waive his no-movement clause for one team, bringing back a high-end prospect and a guaranteed draft pick is better than some expected.
Related: Rangers May Want to Target Draft Picks in Upcoming Trades
Liam Greentree, who is 20 years old, was drafted 26th overall by the Kings in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft after a dominant season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Windsor Spitfires, where he scored 36 goals and added 54 assists for 90 points through 64 games. He returned to the Spitfires for the 2024-25 season, where he scored 49 goals and added 70 assists for 119 points through 64 games. This season, he has 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points through 37 games.
Rangers fans seemed to shut down the idea of them bringing in a new top prospect, worried that they could ruin his development and not utilize him correctly when he’s ready to make the jump to the professional level. However, Greentree might be able to step into an NHL spot as soon as next season, and he may have a higher ceiling than most, if not all, of their current prospects, and could be a difference maker right away.
With that being said, here is everything fans need to know about Greentree.
Greentree’s Playstyle is Unique
Greentree has a unique play style, with some fans strongly believing he relies on his linemates to produce offensively. However, he has shown over the past couple of seasons that he can find ways to score on his own. His net front play is fun to watch, he has a strong finishing ability, he isn’t scared of mixing it up physically, and he is willing to make the extra pass because his patience and IQ in the offensive zone are elite.
He has been called an unorthodox power forward by some fans previously, meaning he doesn’t play the “normal” style of a power forward like Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals, but has drawn comparisons to Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, who relies more on his two-way skill than his physicality to bring a positive impact to his team, but has an edge to his game that makes him annoying to play against.
Only “Flaw” is His Skating Ability
The only knock that most scouts have about Greentree’s game is his stride. He has been working on it over the past couple of seasons, and it has improved, but it is something that he will need to try to perfect before he can push to be a top-six forward at the NHL level. He may have to spend some time in the American Hockey League (AHL) to continue working on it, but it should be something he figures out at the professional level fairly quickly.
Greentree’s Accolades
Greentree had the most goals by a rookie in the OHL in the 2022-23 season when he had 25, while also being named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team. In the 2023-24 season, Greentree won Gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, was named to the OHL Third All-Star Team, and won Gold at U18 World Junior Championship (WJC).
In the 2024-25 season, Greentree was named to the CHL’s Third All-Star Team, the OHL’s First All-Star Team, and won the OHL’s Commitment Award, called the Mickey Renaud Captains Trophy. He also attended the U20 WJC where he won a Bronze medal.
At the end of the day, the return for Panarin may have been a little underwhelming. However, Greentree has a bright future, and should be able to find a home with the Rangers within the next couple of seasons. Being able to pick him up in exchange for a player who they would’ve, instead, lost for nothing in free agency, is a mini win.
Time will tell if Greentree pays off for the Rangers.
As the 2025-26 season moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world.
