Panarin contract has Blue Jackets 'doing everything we can to keep him'

DALLAS -- Artemi Panarin has expressed reluctance to sign a long-term contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they remain determined to sign the 26-year-forward to an NHL-maximum eight-year contract, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Friday.

"Our priority is to get him signed and we're working on doing everything we can to keep him in Columbus," Kekalainen said. "He's a great player, and we also love him as a player and a teammate. I have nothing but good things to say about Artemi."
Panarin, who can become an unrestricted free agent after next season, is eligible to sign an extension July 1 but has told management he's not ready to do so. That has led to several teams inquiring about his availability prior to the 2018 NHL Draft, which begins with the first round at American Airlines Center on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS).
"I never rule out anything," Kekalainen said. "[Wayne] Gretzky got traded. I know it's a cliche that's been used before, but if someone throws something at us to make our team better in the long run and makes our organization stronger, we have to listen and look at it."
Panarin was acquired by the Blue Jackets with center Tyler Motte and a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft in a trade for forward Brandon Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft on June 23, 2017.
Panarin led the Blue Jackets with an NHL career high 82 points (27 goals, 55 assists) in 81 games this season. He has 233 points (88 goals, 145 assists) in 243 NHL games over three seasons with the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets, and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year in 2015-16.

Although his preference is to keep Panarin, Kekalainen said he would weigh all options.
"This is my job," Kekalainen said. "We have to take care of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That's what we will do, what we were hired to do. You have to take the emotion out of it.
"Artemi has done everything right for us, is a great player. We love him. We want to have him for eight years, have made it clear to him that we want him to be a big part of our future, we want build our team around him. That doesn't change.
"We will keep trying until it's too late, if it is too late. Hopefully not."
Kekalainen said he would also like to sign goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who can become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
The 29-year-old is entering the final season of a four-year contract he signed Jan. 11, 2015. He was 37-22-6 with a 2.42 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and five shutouts this season. He won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie in 2016-17.
"We have had some dialogue," Kekalainen said. "The same words could be said. He's a huge part of our franchise, our team. He does everything right on and off the ice. He's a great pro, sets a great example, is a great leader.
"We hope to have him for a long time."