"The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired the forward in exchange for Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg just under a year ago."
Artemi Panarin has become a proven superstar with the Columbus Blue Jackets and it appears that he’s not ready to sign a contract extension according to Elliotte Friedman. Friedman also states that the Columbus Blue Jackets are testing the market for him.
This means that the Columbus Blue Jackets may be forced to face the decision of moving the winger or trying to wait it out and risking a potential John Tavares situation next off-season. The biggest question is what type of return the team could receive for a winger not willing to commit long term.
Artemi Panarin put up a career high 82 points in 81 games last season proving that he can thrive at the NHL level without a linemate of Patrick Kane. Teams will certainly be interested in inquiring about the star winger and it may be possible that a move happens before the draft if the Blue Jackets get the right offer for him.
Is Panarin being unwilling to sign an extension just a time sensitive situation or does he simply not want to come back to Columbus? This is the question that’ll be on the mind of general manager Jarmo Kekalainen as he attempts to decide what to do next. This certainly is a situation that no other general manager will envy him for.
While testing the market means they’re seeing what type of value they could potentially get, don’t necessarily expect a move right away unless it blows them away in terms of value. If Panarin still hasn’t signed an extension at the trade deadline however, he’ll probably find himself on another team regardless.
Next: Columbus Blue Jackets Minding the Metro: Draft Options for Rivals
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a crucial point in turning around the franchise, and losing a key player like Panarin could be a major set back.