Zak MacMillan

"CBJ"

Harrisburg, PA • United States • 23 Years Old • Male

Why Keep Panarin is a Bad Idea

Wh Keep Panarin is a Bad Idea

It was announced earlier today by TSN's Darren Dreger that the Blue Jackets have no interest in trading winger Artemi Panarin. Dreger added they were working to continue convincing him to stay with the team for the long haul. Panarin is a pending free agent, and is making $6 million dollars this season, and will seek a bigger raise on a new deal. The Jackets simply do not have the cap space presently to retain Panarin as well as their pending free agents. This blog will continue to dive into why it is a bad idea for the team to keep him through the season.

Team chemistry might take a hit with his presence still on the team, especially for centers including Alex Wennberg and Pierre-Luc Dubois, who played with Panarin for lengthy periods of the season, especially 5v5 and in special teams. Even Josh Anderson would be affected with the chemistry formed from the infamous PB&J line. Panarin is a star forward, and the younger guys in the room work with star players to be like star players, and if the star player does not want to be there, it may rub off negatively towards the other guys in the room.

Production might take a hit from the whole team as well, as he may not have the desire and the motivation the help the team. His time with teammates and them knowing his desire to leave may want guys on the club to work with other teammates over the star, to get themselves to shine, leading to decreasing the value of Panarin. Having other talent around the star talent may boost their value, especially if the star isn't shinning bright, and that may become the case with the Breadman if he stays the whole year in Ohio's capital.

Development may impact the club as well, as younger guys including Sonny Milano; Oliver Bjorkstrand; Anthony Duclair; and Vitaly Abramov could have a better chance to play with better players, rather than pushing each other for roster spots, or being benched. The young guys all have a chance to grow and shine, but with the upset star talent staying around and taking up the spotlight of the team, the younger guys will have less time to player against tougher competition and in special team scenarios. The younger guys on this team were first round picks, or diamonds in the rough, and can really shine to get the best out of them as they are all still so young. The potential is through the ceiling when given the opportunity for the young guys in the Union Blue, but the Breadman will more than likely not return, and his time on the team through the season may delay or damage the growth of the youth in central Ohio.

Player value will most definitely take a hit with him here. Trading him now with a full season for another team will result in more return for the club, rather than the stereotypical deadline cost of a first round pick, roster player, and prospect for a star talent. Panarin's time on the ice and production from last season may have him at an all time high in Columbus currently, as he was over a point per game player in the regular season, and did put up some points in the post season against Washington. His production and style of play are very rare to find in the
National Hockey League, which would be very difficult for the Columbus Blue Jackets to replace, and the longer he stays, the more he may produce, but the lower his value drops towards July 1. Additionally, if they lose him for nothing, there is a gaping hole for star power needed for the Blue Jackets to produce offensively, after losing guys like Jeff Carter; Rick Nash; Marian Gaborik; Jakub Voracek; Derrick Brassard; Thomas Vanek; and Ryan Johansen in the past.

What are your thoughts on Panarin and his time in Columbus? What do you think Artemi Panarin is worth is traded to any team throughout the league? More to come...

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