Columbus Blue Jackets: Which free agents are coming back?
By Ant Barberio
Artemi Panarin
The Blue Jackets were gifted superstar Artemi Panarin in 2017 as a true sign of desperation from the Chicago Blackhawks to get Brandon Saad back. Although cup less, Panarin became the Blue Jackets greatest offensive superstar since former captain Rick Nash.
Also, unlike Nash, he was there for the franchise’s greatest moments. They may not have ended the way Jackets fans wanted, but at least Panarin won a playoff series in a Columbus sweater.
Being the biggest name on the free agent market (considering his youth and lack of injury-prone seasons it’d be safe to assume he’s a more valuable target than Erik Karlsson), it’s been an open secret throughout the NHL that Panarin would not be a Blue Jacket next year.
More likely than not, Kekäläinen has already accepted this, as should Jackets fans. It might not that the franchise is losing him for nothing instead of a trade deadline deal, but that’s in the past now.
Panarin also refused to engage in mid-season contract talks, which complicated Kekäläinen’s decisions. Perhaps he is holding out hope something can still be done in the offseason in Columbus, but that would be a massive surprise.
There are multiple rumors linking Panarin to the New York Rangers. Then there’s the prospect of the reunion between him and former coach Joel Quenneville with the Florida Panthers. After all, Quenneville had an amazing coaching relationship between them.