6 Columbus Blue Jackets Keys to Consider before Jarmo and Panarin Meeting

Tomorrow Columbus Blue Jackets star left wing Artemi Panarin will meet with GM Jarmo Kekalainen in Paris to talk contract extensions. Here are six things to help you keep your head, pre and post-summit.

As Columbus Blue Jackets fans anxiously await results from tomorrow’s meet up between the Bread Man and Jarmo, it’s good to zoom out from the moment and stay focused on the big picture. To refrain from preemptive meltdown or doomsday tweeting, I’m here to help put things in a neutral perspective.

This is sometimes easier said than done, but it’s the healthy approach.

I’m no oddsmaker nor am I on agent Dan Milstein’s speed-dial,  but I’m a practical, passionate Jackets backer like many of you. That being said, a slam dunk contract isn’t an incredibly likely outcome in tomorrow’s talks. This is ok.

Here are six reasons why it’s best not to get too high, or too low after tomorrow’s talks.

1. Patience Still Reigns Supreme

Last time Artemi signed a contract, he took the Blackhawks into late December. Surely this isn’t ideal for CBJ brass, or for Blue Jacket fans’ nerves, but you can never fault a player (or his agent) for wanting to get this once-in-a-lifetime deal right.

It does Jarmo no good to throw down an ultimatum because this is a marathon, not a sprint. There could be a million reasons as to why #9 hasn’t pulled the trigger yet. It’s Jarmo’s job to play it cool but remind Artemi and agent, there are two parties trying to benefit here.

Panarin could simply be waiting to see how the Jackets come out of the 2018-2019 gates. He might want to see where they’re leaning regarding friend and Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky. He might have simply wanted to enjoy a long summer vacationing (Russia, Paris, Japan) without thinking about work. Can you blame him?

For me though, the big one is the next point.

Related Story: Why CBJ Fans Should Relax About Artemi Panarin's Contract

2. Eight Years is a Long Time

People wondering why Artemi hasn’t already pulled the trigger on a (likely) eight year deal maybe aren’t looking at the biggest item on the roster. Imagine living abroad in a new city for one year. You’ve probably never heard of this city before entering into the NHL atmosphere. 12 months later, you’re being asked to live there for almost a decade.

Also, take into account money isn’t the issue. Artemi can get paid an appropriate wage (likely $9.5-$10M/yr) on many teams across the league. Money isn’t the issue here. Of course he wants to earn what he’s worth. That’s fair.

Put yourself in his shoes though. You’re thrust into Russia. You only know Moscow and St. Petersburg and end up on a team in their 14th largest city, Voronezh. The franchise doesn’t have a history of playoff success but seems to be building something pretty impressive.

There are 30 other teams who would love to have you. Over half of them would clear cap space overnight to put you on their roster. Now, would you rush into a decision?

3. Bob’s Relevance

If you don’t think Artemi and Sergei Bobrovsky hanging out on vacation together this summer isn’t a big deal, you’re not thinking beneath the surface. Bob is beloved in Columbus and knows the city well. He “grew up” in the capital city and knows the metro, staff, culture well.

Sure these guys are on vacation, but both have just one year left on both their current contracts. If you don’t think they’re discussing next steps in their career paths, you must be new.

Regardless of where you stand on Bob’s future with the Jackets, Jarmo’s affinity for both players only helps. Living in a foreign country, still learning the spoken tongue and sorting out new terrain isn’t easy, no matter how much money you make.

Whether Sergei plans to stay or go, he has always been supported in Columbus (even through the playoff woes) and the team’s direction has never been more positive. Each man will make the best decision for his own career no doubt. Having a close friend in the locker room, and on the ice to chase titles with counts for something.

4. Little Fish, Big Pond, Big Fish, Little Pond

Those paranoid that the Bread Man insists on playing in NYC, LA, or another larger market team are forgetting a very real sports truth. Some players desire and thrive in a big fish, small pond setting. Some like to be “the man”, while others like to be next to the man. A relatively quiet guy, #9 hasn’t exactly made it public as to what he prefers.

Just as much as the doom and gloom crowd insist the opposite, nobody knows at this point. If Artemi was that bent on playing elsewhere this season, he would have demanded to be traded much earlier.

Players with his skillset have much more leverage in this league than the average skater. If he was 100% certain he didn’t want to play in a smaller market for the bulk of his career, he could have tipped his hat earlier and already begun with his new team.

Jarmo & co. are wise enough to know that there is zero benefit to keeping an unhappy player on the roster. The team can underperform, the locker room can become cancerous and their trade value could plummet. This point personally brings me tremendous optimism.

Columbus Blue Jackets

5. Tavares Pt. 2 Not Going to Happen

Whoever thinks Jarmo is stupid enough to let a John Tavares part two happen might as well give up on the Blue Jackets entirely. Jarmo is good at what he does. He has helped transform a typically losing team into one of the league’s more consistent winners. This isn’t easy and it doesn’t happen on accident.

Not in a million years does Jarmo let Artemi play all year, just to watch him walk at season’s end without a contract extension in hand or without trading him at the deadline. I’d love to see Panarin in Nationwide for the next eight or nine years, but if Columbus isn’t the ultimate fit for him, Jarmo is going to get talent in return.

The return value may not be exact, but the Finnish GM will make the calls and do the research and find something worthy of letting go of the Russian talent. If it even comes to that point.

There was a time when people were nervous about letting Brandon Saad go. There was also a time right after the 2017-2018 year started when Saad had a hat trick in his first game when people thought Jarmo blew it. Trust the skilled GM and his bigger vision. Bread’s not walking off into the sunset for nothing.

6. CBJ March On

Last but not least, it’s easy to lose sight of how talent rich the Columbus Blue Jackets are right now. With Panarin’s contract the talk of the town, we’re quick to forget how loaded this Jackets roster is in young (mostly proven) potential.

As loyal fans, it’s best to keep in mind that the Jackets are in a winning direction with Panarin, or with the players who could potentially trade jerseys with him. I’d prefer to keep the Bread Man but if he wants out, you move on and get excited about the guys coming in who want to win in Columbus. If you’ve been on the CBJ bus for a while, you know what the dark times look like.

Regardless of outcome pertaining to Artemi, these are far from the worst days. The future is bright in Columbus. It’s maybe just one, huge ray brighter with #9 sticking around.

Next: Blue Jackets Sign Ryan Murray to a 1-yr Deal