Columbus Blue Jackets testing the trade market for Artemi Panarin
After not considering a contract extension before hitting free agency next season, the Blue Jackets are now testing the market on a possible return for Artemi Panarin.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot of work to do this summer after yet another first-round elimination in the playoffs, but now it’s about to get a whole lot more complicated than they could have previously anticipated.
Their leading point scorer from last season, Artemi Panarin, has a contract that leaves him as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019, after the conclusion of next season, so naturally the Blue Jackets are attempting to sign him to an extension before that. Unfortunately, things won’t be that simple for them.
As first reported by Elliotte Friedman, Artemi Panarin told the Blue Jackets organization that he is not ready to consider a contract extension at this time, and now Columbus has no choice but to see what they could possibly get in return for him in a trade if they are unable to lock him down soon.
There would be a long list of general managers around the league salivating at the thought of adding the “Bread Man” to their teams, and for good reason. Panarin is entering the final season of his contract with a $6 million cap hit, and is coming off a career year with a point per game production.
Panarin led the Blue Jackets in every offensive category last season with 27 goals and 55 assists for 82 total points in 81 games. That level of production was good enough for 20th in the league for total points. He also led the team in points during the playoffs with seven points in six games.
However, Panarin not wanting an extension yet does not mean to expect a blockbuster trade of Panarin within the next few days. Columbus still has total control of the situation and plenty of time to work with. Any team looking to snag Panarin will most certainly have to blow them away with a trade offer that they cannot refuse. The asking price on Panarin should be astronomical, and even then Columbus should still have pause about moving him if they get everything they want in a trade.
Even if they cannot extend Panarin, there is no rush to trade him right away. The Blue Jackets still have a very good team put together that could contend for a Stanley Cup if they add the right pieces. Moving their leading point scorer is a step backwards no matter what the return is. Don’t forget that Columbus was a goal post away in overtime from going up 3-0 in their first round series against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, it just makes no sense to rush such a drastic change.
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Don’t expect a player for Panarin’s caliber to be traded on such short notice. There are too many variables that could change to risk just selling off your leading point scorer for scraps. Columbus can always hang onto him and trade him at the deadline if things aren’t going well, or they risk losing him after another attempt at the organization’s first Stanley Cup.