Panarin, Bobrovsky put contract talks on hold with Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS --Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky each said he will not have contract discussions with the Columbus Blue Jackets with training camp starting Friday.

Each can become an unrestricted free agent after this season and has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1.
"We talked all summer, had nice conversations, but today is the 13th," Panarin said Thursday through translator Vlad Spektor of Gold Star Hockey, his management company. "Today is the deadline and really, today is the day where it's all hockey now."
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Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Wednesday he believes talks will be ongoing with the forward.
"There's no such deadline in my book," he said. "The deadline is July 1, 2019. We're keeping dialogue open and showing him we appreciate him and respect him. There's never been anything wrong in the relationship we have."
Bobrovsky said his negotiations will not proceed with camp starting.
"I don't like to do any games, any mind games," the goalie said. "I feel it's fair to say early enough to them what I wanted to do, how I'm going to do things and just tell them my point of view.
"After last season, I told the situation to the management of the Blue Jackets so they know everything. They know my plans for the season. They know my plans for the future. They know everything."
Asked if this could be his last season in Columbus, Bobrovsky said, "We'll see."

Kekalainen told NHL.com on Sept. 7 that he couldn't commit to Panarin or Bobrovsky being with the Blue Jackets when they open their season at the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 4.
"In this business, there's always talks between the general managers whether you've got pending free agents or not," Kekalainen said. "We talk regularly. Sometimes there's trades. So I'm not speculating on them. I'm just saying we talk all the time, so I wouldn't say about any player whether they're a pending free agent or not that they'll be on our team in October because anything can happen between now and Oct. 3."
Panarin set a Blue Jackets record for assists (55) and points (82) last season, his first in Columbus after he was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on June 23, 2017.
"I've given management a whole year by telling them that I'm not really sure," Panarin said. "By doing so, if anything, I've done them a favor by doing it in advance and they can do what they need to do, what's best for the organization."

The 26-year-old said he has not thought about playing for any team other than Columbus.
"I want people to understand that it's not often that a player really has the opportunity to decide the future, so I'm going to take the time to decide," he said. "A long-term contract is essentially a huge part of your life, so it's real important that we take the time to really decide what the right decision is.
"I'm here right now. I'm here to play hockey. All I'm thinking about is playing hockey and getting ready to have the best season possible here.
"There's no issue with Columbus. I love it here. Everything about Columbus is great. I hope the fans continue to be loyal."
Bobrovsky, who will turn 30 on Sept. 20, was 37-22-6 with a 2.42 goals-against and .921 save percentage in 65 games last season. In six seasons with the Blue Jackets, he's won the Vezina Trophy twice (2013, 2017) and is their leader in almost every statistical category for a goalie, including games (312), wins (176) and shutouts (24).
"From now on, I would ask you not to ask me too many questions about the future," Bobrovsky said. "I want to focus on the process. I want to help this team win. I'm a Blue Jacket for now."