A potential Artemi Panarin trade will be the biggest headline of the year for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
While there is little argument that Artemi Panarin has quickly become the most skilled player the Columbus Blue Jackets have ever had on their roster in their prime, it’s beginning to look like a short term stint if an extension is not reached soon. Realistically though, the only way this situation will truly hurt the Blue Jackets is if he walks for nothing.
Exploring a Trade
If you trade Artemi Panarin, you’ll get less than you gave up for him due to the fact that he is now considered a “rental”. However that may not be a bad thing considering what the Blue Jackets gave up. Brandon Saad is a very good hockey player, however he never seemed to fit in well in Columbu. It was a good idea for both the team and player for him to go somewhere else. Anton Forsberg never truly had a shot at making the big league lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins looking like the future of Columbus goaltending.
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On paper, the Panarin trade was a superstar caliber player, a mid-level prospect and a late pick traded for a top six forward with the potential to be an elite two way player, an NHL ready goaltender with decent potential and the ability to move up a round in the draft.
Brandon Saad didn’t look the same as he has in previous years in his first year into his second Chicago stint, making it look like a much better deal for the Blue Jackets one year later.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs are both interested in the Blue Jackets forward. Here’s what I believe the return would look like from both teams.
San Jose – Tomas Hertl, a Prospect and a Conditional First Round Draft Pick
Tomas Hertl wouldn’t be a super star acquisition that most fans would be expecting Jarmo Kekalainen to be adding, however he is a very skilled player who could jump into the Blue Jackets top six immediately. The first round draft pick would be conditional depending on if the Sharks would be able to re-sign Panarin, if not then it would turn into a second round pick.
The San Jose Sharks prospect pool is not a strong point of my knowledge, so I will not attempt to guess which prospects they’d be willing to move; but instead leave it broad with saying it would be a mid-level prospect.
Panarin on his own may not get quite this return, something like a draft pick may need to go back the other way, however it is a solid return for a player who would otherwise leave for nothing.
Toronto – William Nylander
While this deal almost certainly wouldn’t be a one for one trade, it does make sense that the Blue Jackets would look to get one of the Maple Leafs young star players in return and as it currently stands Nylander looks like the odd-man out. There would be draft picks, prospects and likely even other roster players involved in a finalized trade, however Artemi Panarin for William Nylander is a solid base for a deal.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a long season ahead of them full of tough decisions and potential heart break for the fans of Artemi Panarin if he is moved. While the Russian forward may be moved, he may also have a long prosperous career in Columbus. Only time will tell.