The Blue Jackets are making a last-minute pitch to Artemi Panarin with hopes of keeping him in Columbus.
The club's offering the star forward an eight-year deal worth at least $96 million, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, and the contract could be worth as much as $100 million.
However, in order to lock up Panarin for eight years, the deal must be agreed upon and signed by midnight ET on Sunday. If Panarin hits the open market Monday, the longest contract he can sign is seven years, with any team, including Columbus.
The Blue Jackets reportedly made an eight-year, $72-million offer to Panarin last summer, but he informed them he wasn't interested in negotiating an extension.
The Russian winger led Columbus in scoring in each of his two seasons with the team and tallied a career-high 87 points this season.
With reports of Matt Duchene signing with the Nashville Predators and netminder Sergei Bobrovsky likely headed to the Florida Panthers, the Blue Jackets are taking one last swing at keeping one of their most promising talents.
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