When the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired star forward Artemi Panarin just a year ago, not many people expected the mass panic it would cause a year later. Even if Panarin is planning on testing free agency, there’s still an entire season of hockey to be played between now and then.
Artemi Panarin has no obligations to Columbus after July 1st of next year, however as a whole we should enjoy watching him play until then. Panarin set the franchise record for single season assists and points in his first year with the team and it seems like this season could certainly be more of the same for the dynamic Russian.