There is no September 13th deadline in Kekalainen’s mind
Aaron Portzline: Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said that Artemi Panarin’s September 13th deadline to negotiate is “no deadline.” Kekalainen adds that the deadline “is July 1, 2019.”
David Pagnotta: Artemi Panarin’s agent wouldn’t comment when asked about Panarin’s future and a potential trade.
Bobrovsky has laid out his plans to the Blue Jackets
Brian Hedger: Panarin spoke with some media this morning and said that he’s keeping his contract options open. Sergei Bobrovsky was more serious when asked about his contract situation and noted that he’s already informed the Blue Jackets what his plans are, but he wouldn’t say what they are.
Alison Lukan: Aaron Portzline asked Bobrovsky if this is going to be his last season in Columbus, with Bobrovsky answering with “we’ll see.”
No recent talks between the Blue Jackets and Zach Werenski
David Pagnotta: There have been no recent contract extension talks between the Columbus Blue Jackets and defenseman Zach Werenski. Werenski has been rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander appear to far apart on money
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1050 yesterday and was talking about Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent forward William Nylander. Nylander won’t be reporting to the start of the Maple Leafs camp as the sides could far apart on value.
“I think that the Maple Leafs look at comps for William Nylander’s extension somewhere around Sean Monahan, guys like that, maybe on the high end Pastrnak. I think they see him below Pastrnak. Maybe around Nik Ehlers, on the low side, at $6 million.
“But there are others, not Leaf-connected, but others around the league that think that his ask may have been around $8 million or higher; which, of course, isn’t going to happen.”
Nichols notes that Monahan carries a $6.375 million salary cap hit, with Pastrnak coming in at $6.67 million.
