Panthers expect to meet with Bobrovsky, Panarin this week

Dale Tallon won't be talking to Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin right away, but he plans on doing so in the near future.

The Florida Panthers general manager said Sunday he doesn't expect to meet with the Columbus Blue Jackets duo on Monday, but that he should at some point later in the week, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.

With the unrestricted free-agent negotiating period opening Sunday, TSN's Bob McKenzie initially reported that Bobrovsky and Panarin would be in Florida to meet with the Panthers on Monday, but it appears the timing has been pushed back.

The Panthers have been interested in Bobrovsky and Panarin since at least Feb. 1, when TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Florida hoped to take a run at the pair in free agency.

A few days later, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported the Panthers were interested in trading for Bobrovsky and enticing him with an eight-year contract extension.

Aside from Matt Duchene, Panarin, 27, is expected to be the best player available on the open market come July 1. He notched 28 goals and led Columbus with a career-high 87 points in 79 regular-season games in 2018-19, adding five goals and 11 points in 10 playoff contests.

Bobrovsky, 30, had a turbulent regular season but excelled in the postseason with a .925 save percentage. He's spent the last seven campaigns with the Blue Jackets after playing two seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers to start his NHL career.

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