Quarter Season Report Card for Columbus Blue Jackets Forwards: Part 1

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Markus Hannikainen (37) reacts after scoring a goal in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers on November 15, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Markus Hannikainen (37) reacts after scoring a goal in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers on November 15, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Artemi Panarin

Columbus Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 28: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin (9) is in disbelief after scoring a goal in the first period of a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 28, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Breadman has been his usual self this season despite riding the longest goalless streak of his career. Despite not scoring a goal in the last ten games, Artemi Panarin still leads the team in points with 22 and has five goals.

Teams are certainly keying on the Jackets best player but Panarin’s playmaking ability has led to more Cam Atkinson and Pierre-Luc Dubois goals this year. This top line is one of the better top line’s in the league and Panarin’s unselfish play is a huge reason why.

Panarin is on pace for another record setting year in union blue, averaging over a point per game. Although he did miss one game due to illness, Panarin is on pace to score 89 points this year.

That will certainly fetch him whatever price he wants on the open market. Even with all the discussion swirling around his contract situation with the Blue Jackets, Panarin is still performing at an elite level proving he is focused on nothing but winning.

Not much more can be said about the great start to the year from Panarin. I’m sure he’ll be proud of his report card for the first quarter of the year.