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Jarmo Kekalainen

Adam McQuaid Traded To Columbus Blue Jackets

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have already pushed quite a few chips to the middle of the table, and now will throw a tip to the dealer. Adam McQuaid is the latest player to be acquired by the Blue Jackets according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, while Darren Dreger of TSN adds that the New York Rangers will receive a 2019 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-round pick. The Rangers’ confirmation of the deal adds that minor league defenseman Julius Bergman was also included in the return.

With this trade, the Rangers recoup the same picks they traded to the Boston Bruins to get McQuaid this off-season, essentially renting the physical blue liner for five months at the cost of depth defender Steven Kampfer. The asking price for McQuaid was rumored to be at least a third-round pick. Following the Dallas Stars’ acquisition of a similar veteran defenseman in Ben Lovejoy from the New Jersey Devils yesterday for a third-rounder and young defenseman Connor Carrick, that price was expected to go up. However, it seems the market never really developed for McQuaid despite the lack of quality rental defenders on the trade block.

The Blue Jackets made their two big trades before deadline day, adding former Ottawa Senators forwards Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, but continue to address their depth in other areas with a second value addition today. After adding former New Jersey Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid as a solid third-string option in net for just a future fifth-round pick, they add a nice complementary piece on the blue line in McQuaid. Solidifying their defensive depth has been a need for the Blue Jackets and McQuaid fits the bill. The 6’4″, 210-lb. defender is an experienced pro with a Stanley Cup title to his name – the only Blue Jacket with that claim – and brings a strong, physical presence to the right side. McQuaid is likely to slot in as an everyday bottom-pair defenseman for Columbus down the stretch and in the postseason.

Columbus is likely done for the day and for good reason. Although they have addressed many needs and have found good value in several trades, the McQuaid acquisition leaves the Blue Jackets with just their own third-round pick and the Calgary Flames’ seventh-round pick to represent their entire 2019 draft class. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has undoubtedly decided to go all in this season to get Columbus deep into the postseason for the first time in franchise history, but has done so at the cost of the pipeline. The question now is whether it was all worth it.

Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Ryan Dzingel

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The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t done adding. According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Blue Jackets have finalized a deal to acquire forward Ryan Dzingel from the Ottawa Senators. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Senators will trade Dzingel and the Calgary Flames 2019 seventh-round pick to Columbus for Anthony Duclair and two second-round picks, ones in 2020 and 2021.

For Columbus, general managers Jarmo Kekalainen continues to add to a team that has decided to go all-in and try to win a Stanley Cup, so far getting all his additions from Ottawa after the team acquired Matt Duchene from the Senators Friday. This almost guarantees that the team will hold onto forward Artemi Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as own-rentals instead of trading them both away. This time, Columbus moves a pair of second-rounders to get Dzingel, who should add another key element to the team’s top-six and continue to move the rest of their team to strengthen the third and fourth lines.

Dzingel, who was one of three pending unrestricted free agents in Ottawa who didn’t want to commit to the Senators’ long-term, returns to Ohio where he played three years of college hockey at Ohio State University (and was a Hobey Baker award finalist), making him a legitimate candidate to potentially re-sign with the Blue Jackets this summer. There has been no discussion as of yet of an extension, however. The 26-year-old has 22 goals and a career-high 44 points and should make an instant impact next to Duchene.

For Ottawa, the team gets back forward Anthony Duclair, who Columbus’ head coach John Tortorella said on Tuesday, “I don’t think he knows how to play.” The 23-year-old Duclair is considered to be a talented scorer, but is now on his fifth team in his young career and there were rumors that he was a locker room distraction. He will get a final chance to develop into the player that many teams have thought they could get when they traded for him. Duclair posted a 20-goal season with Arizona in his rookie season back in the 2015-16 season, but tallied five goals after that and combined for 11 between Arizona and Chicago last year. He was not handed a qualifying offer and eventually signed a minimum-salaried deal with Columbus this summer. Duclair started off strong this season as he scored eight goals in his first 19 games of the season, but has seen his playing time drop considerably due to his lack of defense. With the available playing time that Ottawa will have after moving their top three players, the Senators should have the playing time to see if they can get Duclair to figure things out in the NHL.

The key to the deal is the two second-round picks. While it is often said that second-round picks pan out at a significantly less rate than first-rounders, the Senators managed to snag two of them, not including the 2019 first-round pick that Columbus gave Ottawa in the Duchene trade as well as a conditional first-rounder in 2020. With their recent trades (not including those including Mike Hoffman and Erik Karlsson) last summer, Ottawa could have as many as 16 picks in the first three rounds of the draft in the next three drafts, including five first-round picks, seven second-rounders and four third-round picks.

Columbus Will Not Move Artemi Panarin For Draft Picks

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Though it may have been obvious from their acquisition of Matt Duchene earlier today, the Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t going to give away Artemi Panarin at the deadline for just anything. After swinging a deal to bring in the Ottawa Senators captain, speculation erupted over what it meant for fellow pending free agent Panarin who has been drawing interest from all over the league. GM Jarmo Kekalainen explained exactly how this affects (or fails to affect) the Panarin situation to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch:

I don’t think this affects that at all. We said right from the start and I think we have stayed consistent with what we’ve said about Panarin. We’re not going to trade Panarin just for draft picks. We’re going to keep our eyes and ears open on what the marketplace looks like. That’s what we have said right from the start. But it would have to be a deal that we can’t refuse. It would have to make sense now and into the future. 

The Blue Jackets are obviously trying to win right now and were willing to sacrifice a substantial package of assets to land Duchene. The former Senator was clear that he hasn’t yet agreed to or even talked about an extension with Columbus and is instead just focused on getting the team to the playoffs. To that end, the Blue Jackets are at risk of losing three top free agents this summer including Duchene, Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovksy.

Columbus has been starved for a winner for some time as the organization is still looking for their first playoff series win in franchise history. Today’s acquisition was with that in mind, and so would be any Panarin trade. The deal would have to make the Blue Jackets better—or at least just as good—now, not just into the future. That’s a tall order when it comes to replacing one of the premiere offensive talents in the entire league. Columbus is currently sitting just out of the playoff picture but still believe they have a chance to do some damage in the Metropolitan Division.

Interestingly, another name that has popped up in trade talks over the last few weeks finds himself in the press box tonight. Alexander Wennberg has been made a healthy scratch with Duchene in the lineup, meaning his $4.9MM cap hit will be sitting and watching tonight’s action. Wennberg has struggled this season with just two goals and 23 points through 59 games, but still has four more years on his current deal. Ryan Murray meanwhile has been moved to injured reserve, leading to more speculation that the Blue Jackets could add a piece on defense as well.

Blue Jackets Will Make “Hard Decision” With Regards To Artemi Panarin

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The Columbus Blue Jackets were thrust back into the spotlight last night when Artemi Panarin’s agent came out on Twitter to say that his client would not negotiate an extension before the end of the season. That has basically been Panarin’s stance since the beginning of last offseason, but to have it reiterated so close to the trade deadline has put even more pressure on a front office already facing some tough decisions. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen didn’t run away from that speculation though, instead calling a press conference to speak with the media directly about the situation. The Athletic uploaded the entire presser, which starts out with a general explanation from Kekalainen:

We’ve said all along that we’re going to make hard decisions if we have to, but our focus is on getting our team better. Making it as competitive as possible for this spring but also into the future obviously. If we have to make a hard decision we will. We like Artemi and would like to keep him, but it’s his right to go to free agency and if he chooses to do so we’ll be knocking on his door July 1. 

Obviously keeping Panarin around for the remainder of this season gives the Blue Jackets the best chance for playoff success, given the forward’s offensive impact every night. Panarin ranks seventh in league scoring since entering the NHL in 2015-16, and has actually performed even better in Columbus than he did in Chicago. His presence makes the Blue Jackets a tough out in any playoff series, but Kekalainen also wasn’t shy in telling reporters that the team is more than just a single player.

I’ve said it before. We love Artemi, but we had 108 points [the season] before he arrived here. We’re going to have a good team even if [Panarin and fellow UFA Sergei Bobrovsky] choose to go to the free agent market. We have some really good core players, we have more coming that aren’t even here yet. We’re going to be okay.

So understanding that Kekalainen believes in the team’s future, it does seem that he would be fine with keeping his free agents through the deadline if the right deal doesn’t present itself. He even mentioned that the team did just that last year, when Jack Johnson and Matt Calvert were both drawing interest. The Blue Jackets kept both and saw them walk in free agency, though neither would have brought back the kind of return that Panarin would if the team decided to sell. It’s just that there might not be a fit for Columbus that helps them this season. Kekalainen understands this, noting that most contenders who are in the market for rental forwards like Panarin are not willing to give up roster players. Instead, they are dealing in futures which isn’t what the Blue Jackets are necessarily interested in.

Columbus has handled the question of whether Panarin or Bobrovsky will re-sign extremely well, not allowing it to affect their on-ice performance so far this season. Even head coach John Tortorella spoke today about how well the two have handled their business, competing hard for the team all season long. Bobrovsky is set to get the start tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, while Panarin will be back on the ice doing what he does best. There’s now fewer than four weeks remaining before the trade deadline and at least the Blue Jackets now know exactly where their star forward stands. Now it’s up to other teams to offer a package that will make it a truly hard decision for Kekalainen.

Latest On Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have quietly put together an excellent season. The team found themselves heading into tonight’s action just two points behind the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division and could have all the pieces in place for a Stanley Cup run. Unfortunately though, two of those important pieces are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, keeping them in the rumor mill even though the team must dread parting with either.

Those two are Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, of which the latter was recently involved in an incident that earned him the equivalent of a one-game suspension from the team. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required), Bobrovsky immediately undressed and showered after getting pulled from a game earlier this month, instead of remaining available to go back in if required. That incident, though only keeping Bobrovsky away from the team for a single day, prompted many fans and media members alike to question his future in Columbus.

They weren’t the only ones to question the veteran goaltender’s future with the Blue Jackets, as according to Portzline’s colleague Pierre LeBrun, Bobrovsky himself apparently indicated to the team that he is willing to waive his no-movement clause for the right trade destination—and he indicated that months ago.

As LeBrun notes, it does not sound like the Blue Jackets have asked him to waive it or presented him with any possible destination, and it’s easy to understand why. The two-time Vezina winner is a huge part of the Blue Jackets hopes this season even if he hasn’t performed up to his lofty standards to this point. Going into the playoffs as a Stanley Cup contender with Joonas Korpisalo as your starter is a tough place to be in, meaning that Columbus would need to replace Bobrovsky with someone else. At that point, unless you’re getting someone with term and upside, there’s not going to be a better rental option than keeping your in-house goaltender.

With just under six weeks until the NHL trade deadline, a deal for Bobrovsky still seems unlikely—even to our readership. Prime goaltenders rarely bring back their true value in-season given that contenders are usually in that position because of their strength between the pipes. Even so, we now know that the goaltender is willing to waive his clause if necessary, and that will only generate more interest if an elite goaltender goes down in the next month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Poll: Where Will Sergei Bobrovsky Finish The Season?

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It seems every day there is a new name dominating the headlines around the NHL as we approach the February 25th trade deadline, and today that name is Sergei Bobrovsky. The veteran goaltender will not dress for the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight after an incident took place which “failed to meet expectations and values” of the club. Though a spokesperson for the team originally said the goaltender was expected back at practice on Friday night, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required) did a bit more digging and found out that GM Jarmo Kekalainen will have a meeting with Bobrovsky first to determine the next step.

No matter how that meeting goes, there is a bigger question than when Bobrovsky will return to practice—will he be with the team at the end of the season? The 30-year old goaltender will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 season if he and the Blue Jackets don’t come to an extension, something that seemed extremely unlikely even before this latest incident. Now the team must decide whether they even want to keep him past the trade deadline and put him out there for a playoff run, or cash in to get whatever assets they can from a contender looking for an upgrade in net.

It’s clear that even if Bobrovsky is mired in one of the worst seasons of his career that he would still be an upgrade for many potential contenders. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner hasn’t completely lost his game and is still at an age where goaltenders can usually find success. Even his .906 save percentage is still better than names like Martin Jones, Philipp Grubauer, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot and Mike Smith, all expected to be front line starters at the beginning of the season for their respective clubs. There’s little doubt there would be some interest if Bobrovsky was made available.

The problem is that it’s not necessarily even Kekalainen’s decision. When we asked a similar question yesterday regarding pending UFA forward Wayne Simmonds, less than seven percent of votes believed he would finish the year with Philadelphia. After all, Simmonds has limited no-trade protection (names 12 teams he will not go to) and a struggling team. But Bobrovsky is a different situation not only because of the strength of the Blue Jackets, but also the full no-movement clause he holds. If he doesn’t want to go to another team there is no way the team could force it, meaning he also would have a big say in where he ended up.

So where will his season end? Does Bobrovsky get another chance to lead the Blue Jackets back to the playoffs, a place where he has traditionally struggled? Or will a contending team blame the rest of the Columbus organization for failing to win a single playoff series and acquire the veteran goaltender to take that next step in a different uniform? Cast your vote below and explain your reasoning in the comments.

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Panarin Does Not Want To Be Traded, Will Discuss Future With Columbus

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Beginning this off-season, the rumblings that star forward Artemi Panarin did not want to resign with the Columbus Blue Jackets created the impression that a blockbuster trade was inevitable prior to the end of this season, when Panarin becomes an unrestricted free agent. That no longer appears to be the case. In the midst of another strong season for both Panarin and his team, the high scoring winger is hoping to stay in Columbus through the end of the season, his agent, Dan Milstein, told TSN’s “Leafs Lunch” on Friday. Panarin is also reportedly opening up to the idea of an extension with the Blue Jackets.

Milstein stated that he and Panarin plan to meet over the All-Star break in late January to discuss the future. Part of that conversation will be about a potential long-term fit with the Blue Jackets. “He likes it in Columbus. They have a very good, young team… Management has been nothing but great to him…. He wants to help the team to win the Stanley Cup”, Milstein said. Panarin is a very competitive player and Milstein made it clear that last season’s early playoff exit bothered the all-world winger and he hopes to lead the team deeper into the postseason this year. There is also the potential for a long-term fit in Columbus, as Milstein applauded the efforts of young center Pierre-Luc Dubois and said that Panarin has enjoyed playing alongside him this season. While Panarin leads the Jackets with 41 points, the sophomore centerman is not far behind with 32. The promise of that pairing moving forward could be a vital factor in Panarin’s decision.

However, other teams and their rosters will certainly be considered. Milstein was honest that he and Panarin will likely begin discussing his potential fits with other teams when they meet next month. Panarin, still just 27, will likely be the most sought-after forward on the free agent market if he opts to leave Columbus and could pick almost any team to play for given his unique skill set. It has previously been reported that Panarin prefers to play in a coastal metropolitan area, with many speculating that the three New York-area teams, all of whom are in comfortable salary cap situations, are possible fits, while Boston, Florida, Carolina, or one of the three California teams would also be logical landing spots. The competitive Panarin also wants a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Even though he will almost certainly sign a seven-year contract at a minimum and a lot can change in that time, teams’ recent success and talent pool moving forward will also weigh heavily on his decision. As Milstein stated, they believe that the Blue Jackets are one of those talented, young teams that will be a contender moving forward.

One thing that will not affect Panarin’s decision is the future of Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, at least not in a personal sense. Although the two are good friends, Milstein said that “they are in no way going to be going as a package”. Bobrovsky appears to be headed for the free agent market, but his likely departure does not necessarily mean that Panarin will leave Columbus simply because his friend is gone. However, how the Jackets plan to handle the massive hole that Bobrovksy would leave in net will definitely be a part of Panarin’s calculations.

Whatever conclusions that Panarin and Milstein come to when the meet in January, if any, the fact remains that in the short-term Panarin is focused on winning with Columbus and that is likely enough to convince Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen to hold on to his top scorer in hopes of making a title run. “Hopefully he’ll play through the end of the season, will help them get deep into the playoffs and perhaps help them win the Stanley Cup”, Milstein said, “That’s the immediate goal.” This should come as good news for Jackets fans, who can rest easy about their best player, at least until July 1st.

Trade Rumors: Holiday Roster Freeze, Lamoriello, Wennberg

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Barring a move late tonight or tomorrow, the NHL’s Holiday Roster Freeze will go into effect without any of the anticipated trades. The roster freeze begins at midnight local time tomorrow, December 19th, and lasts through to December 28th. During that time, the only transactions that teams may make are promotions, as trades, waiver placements, and demotions are all prohibited. Generally, teams see this as a deadline to make any acquisitions they feel they might need to survive a stretch of more than a week during which they are more or less locked in to their current lineup. This year, both the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings expressed interest in making a move prior to the holiday freeze, while other teams have been active on the market as well, but time is running out. Right now, it appears as if the first “deadline” of the season is going to be a quiet one.

  • One team discouraged by a lack of trade activity are the New York Islanders. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch writes that new GM Lou Lamoriello would like to be active on the market, but hasn’t gotten much of a response from potential partners. The Islanders are in an interesting situation right now; the team is currently contending for a playoff spot nearing the midway mark of the season, but also have several pending UFA assets that could draw considerable interest at the trade deadline if they have slipped in the standings. Lamoriello is likely looking to add some depth pieces sooner rather than later in hopes of improving his postseason odds and getting a more clear picture of whether his team will be buyers or sellers in a couple months. Whether the market simply isn’t there or whether rival GM’s are avoiding making deals with Lamoriello, a famed NHL wheeler and dealer, the Islanders are not getting the traction on the trade market that they had hoped, but will continue to be a team to watch after the holiday roster freeze expires.
  • Garrioch adds that Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is also frustrated with the current state of the trade market. Although Columbus is playing well this season, currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division, the team is unhappy with young center Alexander Wennberg, who has just one goal and 16 points through 33 games. Kekalainen has reportedly been actively offering Wennberg in trades, but hasn’t been receiving the level of interest he expected. Wennberg is only 24 and had a 59-point season just two years ago, but his long-term contract worth nearly $5MM per season against the cap is a major stumbling block for interested teams, especially if he’s already in early decline. Columbus has more than a few intriguing trade chips if they do choose to sell, but the Blue Jackets could be actual contenders this season if they instead retain the likes of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky and can add a substantial piece or two in return for Wennberg.

Artemi Panarin “Genuinely Happy” With Blue Jackets’ Season

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One of the biggest stories of this NHL season is the pending unrestricted free agency of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin. After telling the Blue Jackets that he did not want to negotiate a long-term extension with the team in the summer, and then claiming he wanted all business to be finished by the start of the season, he put the team’s front office in quite a bind. GM Jarmo Kekalainen could keep the talented forward and hope that they can convince him at some point down the road, or trade him to try and get some value out of an asset before it expires. He has chosen the former up until this point, and it has the Blue Jackets in second place in the Metropolitan Division and pushing for a playoff spot.

Still, it wasn’t clear how the Panarin situation would resolve, given his apparent unwillingness to negotiate during the year and lack of decision on his future. Now, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports that Panarin and agent Dan Milstein will “discuss business” in late January when the Blue Jackets are on their bye week. That’s a bit different than the timeline presented by Pierre LeBrun recently, who said the two would talk over the holiday break in December. Milstein didn’t tell Hedger what exactly they would discuss, but did tell him that Panarin is “genuinely happy with the way things are going this season.” That at least should give a bit of hope to Blue Jackets fans that are hoping to retain the services of their best offensive weapon past this season.

Now 27, Panarin has dominated the NHL since coming over from Russia in 2015. First joining the Chicago Blackhawks, he found immediate chemistry with Patrick Kane and ended up with a 77-point season as a rookie—albeit an experienced one. He followed that up with another excellent season in Chicago before being dealt to the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2017 in exchange for a package including Brandon Saad, a move that was designed to give the Blackhawks some more cost certainty into the future. Panarin only had two years remaining on his contract, and this is the exact type of situation that Chicago was trying to avoid.

In the one and a quarter seasons since however, the Blue Jackets have been the obvious winner of the trade. Panarin recorded a career-high 82 points last season for Columbus and helped Pierre-Luc Dubois jump right into the NHL lineup and find some success in the offensive zone. The Russian winger has started this season off just as well, recording 23 points in his first 22 games and helping Columbus to their 13-8-2 record. That kind of production though will make him an extremely desirable asset on the open market, one who very well could sign a contract with an average annual salary upwards of $10MM.

That kind of extension may even be acceptable for the Blue Jackets, but at this point Panarin hasn’t even allowed them to make the offer. Though Milstein did meet with Kekalainen recently according to Hedger, it was not to discuss the pending free agent.  It seems as though the team must continue to wait patiently until some sort of decision is made in late January.

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Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman Anticipated Artemi Panarin Free Agency Dilemma

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Pending a change of heart, forward Artemi Panarin is likely to become one of the most hotly pursued NHL free agents in recent memory on July 1st, 2019, with a sweepstakes potentially rivaling even that of John Tavares’ last year. His current team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, have done their best to convince Panarin not to test the free agent waters and instead sign an extension, but thus far it seems like a highly unlikely outcome. As a result, Columbus is saddled with the difficult choice this season of whether to hold on to Panarin for a run at the Stanley Cup and risk losing him for nothing or trade the talented winger for a hefty return while also damaging the team’s title hopes.

However, that dilemma could have instead belonged to the Chicago Blackhawks. Panarin was only traded to Columbus in the 2017 off-season. The Russian dynamo was originally signed by and played his first two NHL seasons in Chicago. However, the Blackhawks decided to deal Panarin away, opting instead to bring back Brandon Saad from the Blue Jackets, as well as young goaltender Anton Forsberg and a mid-round pick. By any metric, it is difficult to say that the Blackhawks won that trade, as Chicago missed the playoffs last season amid a very disappointing campaign for Saad, while Panarin was one of the league’s top scorers for a Columbus squad that performed well all season long. Yet, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman may have had more than just the trade return in mind when he dealt Panarin to the Blue Jackets.

Speaking with TSN, Bowman claims that he foresaw the “tough spot” that Columbus and colleague Jarmo Kekalainen are in right now with Panarin. The young forward made such an immediate impact when coming to the NHL, that Bowman expected he would test the free agent market as soon as possible, saying ” I saw that coming as a challenge.” This clearly was a major factor that contributed to Chicago’s surprising willingness to trade Panarin. For his part, Bowman does acknowledge that Saad has to play better and has been more than a little disappointing thus far in his second stint with the Blackhawks. Continued poor performance from Saad would make this trade a complete loss, even if Panarin does bolt from Columbus. However, Bowman still stands behind his decision to acquire a talented forward signed long-term at a $6MM cap hit in Saad rather than take his chances with Panarin, who felt was destined to depart in free agency.

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