Community Picks: St. Louis 0% vs Columbus 0%

John Tortorella probably won't call Thursday a “no-show” performance from the Columbus Blue Jackets, but when it comes to the standings, they still have nothing to show for it. When you take a step back, just about everything is painful about Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, which extends the Blue Jackets' losing streak to four games (all in regulation). During warm-ups, All-Star forward Cam Atkinson was struck with a wayward puck off of a crossbar, the kind of freak accident that might inspire someone to gripe about players warming up without helmets (looks at Patric Hornqvist), but Atkinson had his lid on. Continue to Article

January 31, 2019 11:08:pm EST

The morning after Artemi Panarin's agent announced that his client wants to focus on this season and will deal with his future in the summer, it was status quo for Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, the GM said that Panarin's decision changes “nothing” about the organization's decision-making process regarding the star forward's future. “We've said all along we're going to make hard decisions if we have to, but our focus is on getting our team better and making it as competitive as possible for this spring but also into the future obviously,” said Kekalainen. Continue to Article

January 29, 2019 1:01:pm EST

In what seems like it is almost certainly discouraging news for the long-term outlook of the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans, the agent for free-agent-to-be forward Artemi Panarin released a statement on Monday evening saying they will only be willing to discuss his future after the season concludes. Said Panarin's agent, Dan Millstein in a Tweet: “'We have informed the team that we are willing to discuss Artemi's future after the season. While the focus being on the rest of the season and the Stanley Cup sounds good, the fact they will seemingly not be having any more contract discussions makes it seem likely, if not a given, that Panarin is determined to get to free agency and test the open market where he will be one of the top players available. Continue to Article

January 28, 2019 8:31:pm EST

Artemi Panarin's agent says the star forward won't discuss a new contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets until after the season. Dan Milstein tweeted a statement Monday saying Panarin's ''priority now is to focus on the rest of the season. Panarin will be an unrestricted free agent. Continue to Article

January 28, 2019 7:29:pm EST

Drama stemming from the uncertain future of two of the team's biggest stars has simmered in the background for half a season, but the Columbus Blue Jackets don't seem all that bothered. With a bye week bumping up against the All-Star weekend, most of the Blue Jackets enjoyed a long midseason break, knowing changes could soon be coming that will alter the team's lineup and identity. Two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and winger Artemi Panarin will be unrestricted free agents after the season and thus far have refused to sign extensions. Continue to Article

January 28, 2019 9:30:am EST