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Panarin sets deadline; Leafs and Sharks potential interest

July 23, 2018, 11:06 AM ET [29 Comments]
Paul Berthelot
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It was a busy few days on the Artemi Panarin front. On Thursday it came out that Panarin does not want to negotiate anything after September 13th, the start of training camp.




He’s not negotiating with the team anyway so this deadline relatively means nothing. This type of situation happens a ton around the NHL. Players set these deadlines hoping to get things done in the off-season but things can change. I’m sure Cam Atkinson didn’t want to negotiate a new deal during the season, but he did and everything worked out for him.

This could also be Panarin trying to get the situation resolved with regards to a trade, done before the season starts. Panarin does not have any trade protection in his deal so he doesn’t have that kind of leverage. The Jackets if they decide to trade him can do so at any point prior to the trade deadline.

On Friday Elliotte Friedman on NHL Network commented on the deadline set by Panarin and suggested that Columbus is taking another look at the trade market for him. Friedman went on to say he wonders if a team like Toronto or San Jose would be in on Panarin, as both teams are going for it this season.




This was just Friedman’s opinion not something he has heard. Both teams make a lot of sense for different reasons. San Jose has an aging core and might not get many more shots at this. The Leafs are a young up and coming team and this is their last season with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on entry-level contracts. They could be looking to make a push while they have the cap space. Of the two teams the Leafs make the most sense to deal with from Columbus’ perspective. They have a ton of high end prospects and good young players ready to step into the NHL. The Sharks don’t have a great system making a trade more difficult.

This whole ordeal is far from over and I expect we will hear a lot more speculation as we get closer and closer to that September 13th deadline.

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