Blue Jackets GM: Decisions loom on pending UFAs Bobrovsky, Panarin

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen admits choices will need to be made on both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Both are pending unrestricted free agents. Panarin has already stated that he won't negotiate an extension once camp opens, while the Blue Jackets also remain far apart in negotiations with Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.

"If we can't work out a contract, then we'll have to make some decisions," Kekalainen told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "I wouldn't say they're just going to stay and ride out into the sunset."

Still, Kekalainen remains hopeful that both players are long for Columbus.

"We're still optimistic we can get things done and we feel they can be a huge part of our team in the future," Kekalainen said. "We're going to have a good team into the future and hopefully they want to be part of it. That's our mindset right now, to keep working at it."

Panarin is entering 2018-19 on the final year of a two-year, $12-million contract. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in June 2017 as part of a multi-player trade involving winger Brandon Saad. Panarin's 82 points last year marked the best single-season total in the Blue Jackets' 18-year history.

Bobrovsky has posted a 176-106-26 showing across six seasons in Columbus, including 24 shutouts, a 2.37 GAA, and a .923 save percentage. That stretch also saw Bobrovsky capture the Vezina Trophy in 2012-13 and 2016-17.

The 29-year-old goaltender carries a $7.425-million cap hit on the final season of his four-year contract.

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.