It is officially February, the best month of the regular season for the NHL. Most of the time.
Despite a couple of dud trade deadlines over the past few years, the league is primed for a great one coming on Feb. 25. And it all goes through Columbus.
That is where two of the biggest pieces are — for now. It starts with electric winger Artemi Panarin, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. His agent Dan Milstein has already declared that Panarin won’t sign an extension with anyone until the end of the season, the Blue Jackets included, and he will likely hit the open market on July 1.