When Artemi Panarin arrived in Los Angeles via trade, he hoped to continue wearing one of his most familiar jersey numbers. With his preferred No. 10 initially unavailable on the Kings’ roster, Panarin set his sights on No. 72 as an alternative. There was, however, an unexpected wrinkle: the team’s mascot was already associated with that number.
The overlap created a playful, behind-the-scenes storyline inside the organization. While players and mascots do not officially share roster spots, numbers are still part of each franchise’s broader identity and fan experience. In this case, Panarin’s interest in No. 72 briefly intersected with the mascot’s established look, prompting some friendly attention from within the team and among fans.
The Kings used the situation as an opportunity to acknowledge the quirk in a good-natured way, recognizing both a high-profile player’s arrival and the mascot’s ongoing role in the team’s culture. Mascots often serve as key ambassadors for their franchises, especially during home games, community events, and youth outreach. Their costumes, colors, and even the numbers on their jerseys become familiar sights in the arena and in promotional materials. When a player of Panarin’s stature joins a team, any detail about his on-ice appearance, including jersey number, naturally draws curiosity.
Panarin’s brief connection to No. 72 in Los Angeles adds a small but memorable chapter to his introduction with the Kings. It underscores how even routine decisions, such as jersey assignments, can carry a bit of personality and humor. While the mascot’s prior claim to the number was never an on-ice complication, it did provide a lighthearted moment for the organization to spotlight.
Ultimately, the situation illustrates how player traditions, team history, and mascots’ visual identities sometimes intersect in unexpected ways. For the Kings, Panarin’s number preference and the mascot’s long-standing look combined to create a fun, short-lived anecdote amid the more serious business of building a roster and preparing for games.
