I don't understand the anger towards Panarin. Columbus didn't draft him, didn't develop him, didn't sign him to a contract. Did the team want him when he was an unknown 20 year old KHL player or something? He signed with Chicago because that's where he wanted to be. He got traded, and has been a consummate professional.
Bread didn't lead the team on, and didn't promise things he knew he couldn't deliver. Now he told you his intentions, without a translator, just like he was asked. It's not what you wanted to hear, and frankly as a Rangers fan it's not what I wanted to hear either (he's going back to Chicago, if they can figure the cap situation out). What has he done wrong? This is exactly why Tavares didn't want to come clean. He didn't want the fans and the media to be angry at him. He just bolted and gave the fanbase one big fat middle finger. I would be surprised if any UFAs will be honest from now on. Who'd want to be subjected to the circus?
Look, you're right. He didn't pick Columbus, Columbus picked him. He's been nothing short of great here both on and off the ice. There's nothing to complain about on his play or his attitude, even during trying times.
However, the notion that he didn't lead the team on is false. Ever since he's been here he's been asked how he enjoyed the city or whatever, and multiple times he stated his intentions to sign here. I mentioned it a few pages back, but here is a quote from his now former agent just a few days before the announcement that he wouldn't negotiate last summer...
"As of Wednesday, the Blue Jackets have not had any talks with agent Daniel Milstein regarding client Artemi Panarin. Don’t be alarmed by this. Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito, a former agent who handles the club’s contract negotiations, was gone for most of May at the IIHF World Championships. He was Team USA’s GM. Panarin went away to his favorite resort and cast aside his cellphone for a couple of weeks. Panarin is signed through the 2018-19 season. The Blue Jackets won’t want to delay a deal too long for obvious reasons, but they don’t have to have something done July 1, either.
“I talk to Columbus all the time,” Milstein told The Athletic. “But we haven’t talked about a contract yet. I congratulated Billy for doing well at the Worlds. Hey, look, they want Panarin. The feeling is mutual.”
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Also last year when Portzline wrote the article about Panarin and his upbringing, the last few paragraphs of the story included his thoughts on his future:
“We talked about this on the day he was traded, that he was fortunate he ended up in Columbus,” says Daniel Milstein, Panarin’s agent. “He was in the role of No. 2 guy in Chicago. Now he’s No. 1 in Columbus.
“To me, that’s his team in Columbus. It was time for him to step up and be the guy.”
Panarin and his girlfriend, Alisa, have grown close with Bobrovsky and his wife, Olga. But how much longer they’ll play together in Columbus remains a mystery.
The Blue Jackets would like to sign both players to contract extensions this summer, but both might be in line for salaries of $10 million or more per season.
Both Panarin and Milstein, his agent, say they are willing to talk with the Blue Jackets about an extension this summer, but it’s unclear how much the Jackets will be willing to spend — and able to spend, given the constraints of the NHL’s salary cap.
Panarin and Bobrovsky can be unrestricted free agents after the 2018-19 season.
Panarin seems comfortable in Columbus, says he’s fond of Tortorella and his teammates and says he has nothing to complain about.
“For me, it’s not all about the money,” Panarin says. “I want the things that money can’t buy.”
Then he flashes an ornery grin.
“But don’t tell the general manager this, right?”
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As far as I can tell, the only time he ever showed restraint or unwillingness to talk about signing in Columbus last season (and keep in mind, interviews were very scarce with him. And when he did have them he was constantly asked if he enjoyed Columbus.), was his last interview when we were bounced by Washington:
Hell, it was even seen as a virtual slam dunk he was signing to many around the hockey world DAYS before the draft:
As of late last week, the Blue Jackets had not had any contract talks with Panarin’s agent, Daniel Milstein. Expect this to change soon, with Milstein and Panarin set to meet to discuss the player’s wishes.
It is widely accepted that Panarin would be open to staying in Columbus, that the Blue Jackets will offer him an eight-year contract, and that the deal will get done.
But Panarin’s asking price will bear watching. Since he joined the NHL three seasons ago, only six players have scored more points: Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Blake Wheeler and Jamie Benn. That’s the high-rent district.
Less is known about Bobrovsky’s contract talks — if there have been any yet — but there is great trepidation on what lies ahead from the Blue Jackets’ perspective.
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He has a right to change his mind, there was nothing agreed to, there was nothing negotiated, and there was no promises. However, to say Panarin and his representation didn't lead on the CBJ, would be absolutely false.
I believe he was genuine with his interest in re-signing, but I also think when John Tavares hit the market he got to thinking more and more about how free agency would be for him, and how it would feel to be able to control where you go, and play where you want to play (again, as he did it when he came over, but now he can negotiate his own salary). I to this day think he enjoys and likes it in Columbus, but he would rather be somewhere with more nightlife, marketing, and leisure activities.
He never made a demand to stay in Columbus. Not even a crazy one. He never had any intention to stay and if you thought he would stay, it is on you. The real blame needs to go to the organization if they had the opportunity to get a lot more before the season if they traded him and chose not to. If the return price is pretty much the same then they might as well have waited and try to get the performance for the first 50+ games.
As I said above, he absolutely did flirt with the CBJ about staying all last year. The fact he suddenly had a change of heart in June had to have been shocking for the whole organization. With the way he was speaking about re-upping last year, I think management thought his intentions of leaving were just a negotiation tactic to scare them. I think some players even admitted that they hoped the team would hang onto him because it would be hard to look them in the face and say he's leaving, especially after how close they had gotten since he'd been there. I think management was banking on him going back to his original mindset once the season got going. Maybe a mistake, but its hard to blame them without seeing what was being offered. Hopefully we get a good return for him.
