Warning: Story contains coarse language

Questions surround the Columbus Blue Jackets and their top stars heading into the 2018-19 campaign.

Forward Artemi Panarin isn't interested in signing a contract extension with the club, and he won't entertain negotiations once training camp opens. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets also reportedly haven't had much communication with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky about a contract extension, and the two sides were far apart after initial discussions.

Panarin and Bobrovsky are entering the final years of their current contracts, and while their futures with the team might be up in the air, head coach John Tortorella understands the position each player is in and doesn't hold it against them.

"I'm not mad," Tortorella said, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "This is their choice; it's their life. You go to Panarin … this is going to be years of his life. I'm not mad at either one of them. I am disappointed. I look at Panarin … I really like coaching him. I really like him as a person, and I like him in our room. I think he's contagious as far as how he comes to work and does his job with enthusiasm. I'm disappointed that there's talk he may be leaving. But I'm not gonna coach him any differently. He's going to be put in every damn situation I can find to put him in, because he gives us a really good opportunity to win hockey games."

Panarin prefers to be traded to the New York Rangers, according to a report from Portzline earlier in the week. During the draft, the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Dallas Stars also were among his preferred destinations.

Last season, Panarin produced a career-high 82 points in 81 games. Bobrovsky, meanwhile, posted a 37-22-6 record with a .921 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average.

It will be interesting to see how the Blue Jackets handle the contract situations of Panarin and Bobrovsky, but as Tortorella said, other teams often face similar situations.

"Do we want those to be distractions? Are we going to be able to handle it as a room, or does it turn into a distraction? I think I need to coach that," Tortorella said. "But shit happens. We're not the only team that has things go on like this."

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