Artemi Panarin won’t discuss future with Blue Jackets until after season
The Columbus Blue Jackets face a difficult decision with soon to be free agent forward Artemi Panarin. His agent recently announced he won’t discuss his future with the team until after the season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets came into this season knowing this might be their last chance to win with their current core. This became official on Jan. 28, as the agent of Artemi Panarin, who will be a free agent for the first time in his NHL career, announced that his client won’t discuss his future until after the season.
Panarin is represented by Dan Milstein. Some of his other clients include former Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk, Tampa Bay Lightning superstar forward Nikita Kucherov, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev.
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He isn’t their only upcoming free agent either. Two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will also be a free agent for the first time in his NHL career. Both Panarin and Bobrovsky are expected to sign long-term deals once free agency starts on July 1.
The Blue Jackets now face an extremely difficult decision. Do they trade Panarin? Or do the Blue Jackets try to win the Stanley Cup because, as they say, banners fly forever? Nobody’s envying their decision here. It’s about as tough of a decision as you can get.
On one hand, the Blue Jackets likely can’t afford to lose both Bobrovsky and Panarin for nothing. They are arguably two of the three best players in franchise history, trailing only Rick Nash. The Metropolitan Division isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
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Columbus has been able to keep up with the likes of the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins during the past two regular seasons because of them. Losing both would be devastating. The Blue Jackets witnessed their division rival New York Islanders lose John Tavares for nothing in free agency. One has to think that’s something they’d like to avoid if possible.
But on the other hand, the Blue Jackets have never won a postseason series. They have the chance to do something special this year. Trading Bobrovsky is reasonable, especially given his lack of success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But Panarin has been the catalyst, heart, and soul of the Blue Jackets offense ever since he arrived in 2017.
This season, Panarin has 53 points in 46 games as the second half begins. With the Blue Jackets, he has 135 points in 127 regular season games. Panarin added seven points in six postseason games last season as well.
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The only way the Blue Jackets can solve this quagmire is to wait it out. If they look like a Stanley Cup contender at the trade deadline, keeping Panarin, though risky, makes sense. But if the Blue Jackets fall out of favor in the Eastern Conference, things could get very interesting.