George Richards of the Columbus Dispatch: Elliotte Friedman reported yesterday that “at this time” Artemi Panarin is not interested in talking contract extension with the Blue Jackets. Friedman added that they will see what Panarin’s trade value is.
Panarin’s agent, Dan Milstein, said it wasn’t the right time to comment.
Statement from GM Jarmo Kekalainen.
“Artemi is an elite National Hockey League player,” Kekalainen said in an official statement in response to the report. “Our position has been that we want him to be a Blue Jacket for many years and that has not changed.