IMO that would be because if we get Panarin, Pavs becomes redundant, and we won't be able to sign both next year anyways, if Panarin wants to sign here that is. So if we cant keep Pavs next year anyways, he is easily the best forward we can trade for Panarin right now, with guys like Labanc and Meier being the higher future upside players.
So if CBJ is not in a win now/soon mode, I could totally understand not being too hot for Pavs, but if trying to compete this year, from the Sharks at least, he is the smallest step down from Panarin on the wing we have to trade you.
I am not really a fan of trading for high caliber rentals like Panarin, because if we don't win a cup, lose Panarin, and lose guys like Donskoi/Pavs/Labanc/Meier/1st round picks/etc, Our team is way worse off for it and with nothing to show for it. I also don't know if an upgrade of say Meier to Panarin is really the difference between us winning a cup or not. So even though I know a lot of Sharks posters are very interested in getting Panarin at the cost of guys like Labanc/Meier etc, I am not really one of them. If we know he is willing to sign here at the very least, that might help, but if he is still standoff-ish about signing a contract with us, or we dont even get a chance to find out prior to the trade.....eeeehhh I dont know.