NHL Trade Buzz: Blue Jackets deal with Panarin, Bobrovsky uncertainty

Welcome to the NHL Trade Buzz. There are 22 days remaining until the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET and the buzz is just starting. How are the Columbus Blue Jackets affected by the uncertain futures of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky? Will the New York Rangers look to trade, and then re-sign, either Kevin Hayes or Mats Zuccarello?
Here's a look around the League at the latest deadline doings.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have done an impressive job this season dealing with the uncertain futures of forward Artemi Panarin and goalie Sergei Bobrovksy, each of whom can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. But Columbus finally might be bending under the weight of speculation as the trade deadline nears. The Blue Jackets lost their fifth consecutive game Saturday, 4-2 to the St. Louis Blues.
Panarin's agent said Monday his client will not enter into contract negotiations until the season is over, further adding to the angst in Columbus. Coach John Tortorella admitted that all the uncertainty surrounding two of the Blue Jackets' most important players could be taking its toll.
"We talked about it, we've been very honest about it. We knew this stuff was going to be around and I think they've handled themselves very well," Tortorella said. "Now it's getting toward that deadline -- I think it happens with all teams anyway, when it's just normal circumstances, maybe a team changing a couple of players here and there. But we're getting a lot of focus. The only thing that's being talked about with this team is not our play. It's about [Panarin] and [Bobrovsky]."
Panarin, a 27-year-old forward, has not succumbed to the pressure. He had two assists Saturday, has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his past nine games and leads the Blue Jackets with 59 points (20 goals, 39 assists).
Bobrovsky, who is 30 years old, is 19-16-1 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen continues to weigh his options with Panarin and Bobrovsky, stating several times that he will make tough decisions if required to do so. Meanwhile, Tortorella said the Blue Jackets will have a meeting when they arrive in Colorado on Sunday.
"We've got to be grown-ups about it," Tortorella said. "We have to handle this like men. Let's ask the tough questions amongst ourselves and see if we can come up with some answers here and try to rectify it when we get on the ice."
The Blue Jackets (28-20-3, 59 points) hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They play the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-0, NHL.TV).

Chicago Blackhawks

Brent Seabrook has spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Blackhawks. And according to a report, he has no desire to leave Chicago.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the Blackhawks asked Seabrook to waive his no-movement clause, and Seabrook said that he would not. The 33-year-old defenseman is a right-handed shot, which would be appealing to other teams, but his contract also runs through the 2023-24 season.
Seabrook has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 52 games. He has 452 points (100 goals, 352 assists) in 1,056 games with the Blackhawks, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
The Blackhawks appear to be weighing all options with their longest-tenured defensemen. Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN's Insider Trading on Thursday that they will approach Duncan Keith before the trade deadline and ask if he wants to go to a contender or stay in Chicago. Keith, speaking to reporters in Buffalo on Friday, said he has not yet been asked to waive his no-move clause.
"I like it here in Chicago, and nobody's mentioned anything to me," said Keith who has 565 points (94 goals, 471 assists) in 1,047 NHL games. "I haven't really thought too much about anything. You get reports out there. I don't know where that stuff kind of comes from. I just take it one day at a time."
The Blackhawks (20-24-9, 49 points) have won four straight games and are five points behind the Vancouver Canucks (24-22-6, 54 points) for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. They play the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, WGN, NHL.TV).

New York Rangers

Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello, forwards who have garnered much trade speculation, are thriving offensively as the deadline approaches, likely boosting their value as the Rangers consider moving one or both.
Hayes has 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 42 games, including 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in his past 14 games. The 26-year-old center has three points (one goal, two assists) in three games after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.
RELATED: [Hayes wants to remain with Rangers but knows trade is possible]
Zuccarello, a 31-year-old right wing, is on a seven-game point streak (five goals, eight assists) and has 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 37 games this season.
Though both players have stated publicly they do not wish to be traded, each could be a valuable pickup for a contending team.
The New York Post reported
Sunday that the Rangers could trade Hayes and Zuccarello, each of whom becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1, for draft picks and prospects prior to the deadline before re-signing one or both.
The Rangers (22-22-7, 51 points) are eight points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-3, 59 points) for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They host the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SNE, SNO, SNW, MSG, FS-W, NHL.TV).

New York Islanders

The Islanders (30-15-6, 66 points) are one of the most surprising teams of the season. They're first in the Metropolitan Division, four points ahead of the Washington Capitals (28-17-6, 62 points). But if they feel the need to improve their roster before the deadline, Islanders coach Barry Trotz is confident that general manager Lou Lamoriello will find a way to do so.
"Lou's as diligent as anybody you're ever going to meet in terms of making calls, seeing what's out there," Trotz said before the Islanders defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday. "If he's going to do anything, it's going to be in the best interest of the New York Islanders. He's looking to improve us all the time, either internally or externally."
The Islanders could be in the market for a top-six forward, someone who could help improve a power play that is ranked 26th in the NHL (16.0 percent).
New York's depth could be bolstered soon by the return of two veterans. Forward Andrew Ladd, who's been out with a lower-body injury since Nov. 13, and defenseman Thomas Hickey, out since Dec. 17 with an upper-body injury, both rejoined the Islanders for optional morning skates Friday and Saturday and are getting back into hockey shape after long layoffs, according to Lamoriello.
The Islanders play the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV).
RELATED: [NHL Trade Buzz: Keith not concerned about rumors with Blackhawks]