3. Artemi Panarin freezing all contract talks until after the season is another earthquake reminding teams that players are more willing than ever to maximize their leverage. Eight months after Tavares took one further step than 2016
Steven Stamkos, Panarin’s preparing everyone for a similar meet-and-greet. Tampering rules prevent open statements of lust, but jockeying is underway for an audience.
This will force teams to make even earlier assessments about their star players. Trade them at the draft a year before they hit the market? One exec said his team, if unsure about ability to contend, could weigh doing it even earlier — two trade deadlines before unrestricted free agency. There were rumours New Jersey would consider that path with
Taylor Hall, currently available in July 2020. But Devils GM Ray Shero said Saturday there was “zero chance” he would trade Hall this month. (Nor, from what I understand, is Hall looking to go anywhere.)
Not long ago, the idea of trading such a player 19 months before his contract was up wouldn’t just fly in the face of normalcy. It would be like picking up conventional wisdom, slamming it to the ground and kicking dirt on its face. But, at the very least, that thinking is going to become part of every club’s process.
4. Over the weekend, the feeling was Florida would not make trades for Panarin or
Sergei Bobrovsky — feeling there was no need to spend assets when the Panthers liked their chances in free agency. Monday, the
New York Post’s Larry Brooks reported the
Panthers are thinking about trading for Bobrovsky, so as to give him eight years. We will see where this goes, but don’t be surprised to see Florida continue to try to clear room.
Mike Hoffman, now in his fifth-straight 20-goal season, could be another to go. Teams are always looking for scorers.
5. Panarin’s decision sent shockwaves through the Blue Jackets. Columbus lost three straight in regulation after agent Dan Milstein’s announcement. A couple days off before a Colorado/Arizona/Vegas trip gives them a chance to breathe and re-set. Trading either player for something that can’t help them now isn’t an option. Doug MacLean was saying last week that he’d trade both players, and, if the assets were futures, flip them for immediate, impactful help. I think GM Jarmo Kekalainen is considering just that. If the Blue Jackets do deal Bobrovsky (and remember, the goalie has control of the situation), do not be surprised if they take a run at
Jonathan Quick.
6. There’s a ton of interest in Panarin, but those teams indicate they aren’t being allowed to talk contract with him. Then again, it probably doesn’t matter anyway, since he’s not interested in signing now.