A handful of teams could be interested in Panarin as a pure rental
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun was TSN 1040 and was talking about Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin. With it looking like Panarin won’t be signing an extension with the Blue Jackets, the Blue Jackets could hold on to him for one more playoff run and take the cap savings or they could look to move him as a rental at the deadline. Moving him as a pure rental diminishes the return for the Blue Jackets.
LeBrun does add that if they look to move him at the trade deadline, there could a handful of teams that would be willing to give up more than a first-round pick for three months of Panarin.
“Now, I will leave the door open a crack in terms of a signing through a trade if it happens to be one or two of the teams that’s on this so-called list of five teams that I think he would be interested in next summer. He wants to go to a big market team, and whether that’s one of the New York area teams or a Tampa Bay because of where they are in their arc, or in L.A. – whatever it is I think it’s obvious some of the markets that he’s looking at. If those teams step up before the trade deadline, could they entice him to forego July 1 ahead of time? It’s not out of the question.”
Canucks Gagner hopes to impress while playing for Leafs AHL team
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Vancouver Canucks forward Sam Gagner cleared waivers last week and had been loaned to the Toronto Maple Leafs AHL team – the Toronto Marlies.
When asked if he hopes he’s able to impress the Maple Leafs enough to lead to a deal with them:
“You hope to make an impression on everybody. I take pride in my work habits and my professionalism and coming to the rink every day trying to get better. Being in an organization, they’ll be able to see that on a day-to-day basis, so hopefully that rubs off on them,” Gagner responds.
“At the end of the day, I want to show that I’m capable to every team — and the Canucks as well. I feel like I can be a productive, effective NHLer, not just a guy who plays in the NHL.”
