Panarin looking for big money
Pierre LeBrun: It’s expected that Artemi Panarin will be looking for between $10 and $11 million per season on his next deal.
Panarin to meet with his agent next month
TSN: Pierre LeBrun said on Insider Trading that the Columbus Blue Jackets and pending unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin haven’t talked about a contract since he told them in offseason he wasn’t ready to sign an extension with them.
Panarin will meet with his agent Dan Milstein next month to go over his situation.
“I wouldn’t say much has changed with Bobrovsky, but here is what I would say with Artemi Panarin. His agent Dan Milstein is slated to meet with him in person next month during the holiday break to go over where they are with that contract situation,” LeBrun reported Monday on Insider Trading. “They haven’t talked business since early September. We know this off-season, Panarin said he’s not ready to sign an extension with Columbus and probably was headed towards the market on July 1st. Now, has that changed? All I can tell you is this – everyone around him feels that he is a happy person. He’s scoring, the team is in first place and that is the greatest asset that the Blue Jackets have right now is to keep showing him that this a good place to be.”
LeBrun notes that Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen was asked about if Panarin is still not signed by the trade deadline.
“He brought up the example of Jack Johnson, who last year was a pending UFA, the Blue Jackets examined the trade offers on the table and decided they would keep him for the playoffs. They can do the same thing with Panarin or obviously they can move him.
“The bottom line is I think they’ll make him a contract offer right before the deadline to see if they can convince him to stay.”
Blue Jackets haven’t held any trade talks involving Panarin
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: Artemi Panarin appears to be happy and the Blue Jackets continue to hope that he stays. GM Kekalainen has told him that they want to keep him. Kekalainen notes they haven’t held any trade discussions about him.
“We love him. He’s a great guy. So this is not always just about points and skills and talent, it’s about being a good teammate and a good pro. He’s all those things. That’s why we told him, `We want to keep you.’ That’s why we haven’t got into any trade discussions. We want to see if he wants to stay. If he wants to stay, great, we’ll be happy. If he doesn’t, then we’ll have to make those decisions.’’