By Lyle Richardson, Featurd
The Columbus Blue Jackets enter this season hoping to take the next step toward Stanley Cup contention. Unfortunately, questions over the future of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and left-wing Artemi Panarin have become an unwelcome distraction.
Both players are slated to become unrestricted free agents next July. Bobrovsky,30, is a two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy. With 82 points in 81 games last season, the 26-year-old Panarin was the Jackets' leading scorer.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to re-sign both players to long-term contract extensions.