"The Jackets only found out, of course, a few days ago that (Panarin) would not entertain negotiating an extension, but within those couple of days I'm told several contenders already have reached out to Columbus to find out what's going on, what the price might be, and get that conversation going," LeBrun said.
On Monday, Panarin's agent Dan Milstein released a statement saying the left winger would not discuss his future with the Blue Jackets until after the season.
Panarin will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and while his value to the team is apparent, the Blue Jackets risk losing the superstar for nothing in the offseason if he remains with the team past the trade deadline.
Reports of Panarin's unwillingness to sign an extension with Columbus first surfaced last June. It was then reported in August that the New York Rangers were his first choice, while the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Dallas Stars were also on Panarin's list of preferred destinations.
The 27-year-old is once again leading the Blue Jackets in scoring this season, registering 20 goals and 57 points in 48 games.
With the All-Star Game now in the books, the unofficial halfway point of the season has come and gone, and we are still no closer to designating this year's best goaltender.
For the fourth straight edition, there is a new favorite to capture the Vezina Trophy.
5. David Rittich, Calgary Flames
Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / Getty
The Flames are cruising, and although the club boasts the best offense in the Western Conference, Rittich has been instrumental in their success.
For the first time since Miikka Kiprusoff hung up the skates following the 2012-13 campaign, Calgary looks to have some stability between the pipes. In fact, Rittich's .918 save percentage is tied for the fifth-highest mark in a season by a Flames netminder over the past 20 years. The four spots ahead of him are all occupied by Kiprusoff.
In 30 games, Rittich has gone 19-4-4. His .937 save percentage at five-on-five ranks second overall among goalies to play at least 800 minutes and his .880 high-danger save percentage is the third highest. He's making a heck of a case.
4. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty
Last month's favorite is beginning to slip, but his recent play is merely a byproduct of those playing in front of him.
Gibson has just two wins in nine games since the calendar flipped to 2019. Over that span, he's allowed two or fewer goals on just three occasions. However, Gibson has faced the most shots at five-on-five and 55 more high-danger shots than the next closest netminder this season.
The Ducks are a single point out of the final wild-card spot in the West despite scoring the second-fewest goals per game and allowing the third-most shots against. The man needs help.
3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Nikita Kucherov's monstrous campaign has been nothing short of spectacular, but through 50 games, Vasilevskiy has arguably been the Lightning's most valuable player this year.
In just 29 games, he's recorded 20 wins, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals-against average - the lowest mark of his career as a starter.
The Lightning are in the midst of a potentially record-breaking season, and while the club is scoring more goals than any team in the NHL, Vasilevskiy has been no slouch.
2. Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Maple Leafs were hit-or-miss prior to the All-Star break. Luckily, they went into the weekend on a high after a big 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals, where Andersen made 41 stops.
Andersen has been consistent, ranking tied for second in save percentage (.923), 12th in goals-against average (2.56), and third in wins (22). He also ranks first among all goalies with 13.46 goals saved above average at five-on-five.
Of course, coming out of the break with newly acquired Jake Muzzin in the fold should make Andersen one happy camper.
1. Robin Lehner, New York Islanders
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The Islanders have gone from a team that allowed the most goals against per game last campaign (3.57) to the fewest (2.41) this season.
Having a defensive-minded coach in Barry Trotz has played a major role, but Lehner also deserves credit. The 27-year-old has gone 15-7-4 in 27 games with a 2.02 goals-against average, which is tops among goalies to play at least 20 games. Meanwhile, his .940 five-on-five save percentage and .931 mark overall both rank first in the NHL, while his 13.19 goals saved above average sits third.
After a forgettable 2017-18 in Buffalo, Lehner has been remarkable with the Islanders and could be rewarded handsomely for his stellar play at the end of the season.
Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been placed in Stage 2 of the NHL and NHLPA's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, the league announced Tuesday.
The treatment is in relation to "his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse," the release states. Under the terms of the program, Watson will be suspended without pay until he is cleared by administrators.
Watson was suspended for 27 games in mid-September 2018 - later reduced to 18 games - when he pleaded no contest to a domestic assault charge in late July after being arrested in June.
Earlier this month, Watson opened up about his mental health and struggles with sobriety in a detailed Instagram post.
In 34 games with the Predators this season, Watson's posted seven goals and 13 points.
Twitter is abuzz following the Toronto Maple Leafs' big splash nearly a month out from the Feb. 25 trade deadline.
After the club landed defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, recent draft pick Sean Durzi, and the team's first-round pick in this year's draft, the NHL community took to the social media platform, chiming in with relatively kind words towards the Maple Leafs. However, some questioned the haul Toronto gave up to acquire Muzzin.
Edmonton finding out you don’t need to trade elite players to get defensemen: pic.twitter.com/fM2XyL3X6m
Quick reaction - Kings were able to move early because the price was right. All along, we'd been saying a Muzzin trade was expected to get a first rounder and a solid second asset (RD 2 pick or prospect).... They got both and the first. Very nicely done. https://t.co/9dl73WryLf
All seriousness: This is a good trade. The Leafs get the piece they desperately needed and they get to keep Sandin and Liljegren. It’s the right move. I’m not a big Grundstrom fan. Durzi is fantastic. Just don’t expect the prospect pool to be anything but thin moving forward.
Don’t underestimate the importance of getting Muzzin a whole extra month before the deadline to adjust to new surroundings. That’s a big factor here. So little practice time in March. Told that things picked up “last few weeks” between Leafs and Kings on Muzzin
Also worth noting, the Leafs add $4-mill to their 2019-20 cap in a year they have to hand out big raises to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. This will make keeping Jake Gardiner VERY difficult.
If the #Leafs do not acquire another 1st RD pick between now & the draft, it will mark the first time the club finds itself without a selection in the opening round since 2010 when their pick went to Boston in the deal that brought Phil Kessel to Toronto.https://t.co/8pTsnpwJek
Always interested to see which GMs get ahead of the deadline trading game to bolster roster (Kyle Dubas, Leafs and Jim Nill, Stars), make room for others (Jim Rutherford, Penguins) or start what could be a rebuild (Rob Blake, Kings). Acting early sets the market and can pay off.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to defenseman Sean Durzi, and Toronto's first-round pick in the 2019 draft, the team announced Monday.
"We feel this trade was necessary for the future of the organization," Kings general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. "Moving Jake was not easy as he has been a key player for us and a significant part of our most historic and memorable achievements. We are grateful for his contributions to the Kings and we wish him the best of luck in the future."
Muzzin gives the Maple Leafs an immediate boost to their back end, something the team has desperately been lacking for some time.
Muzzin will partner with Morgan Rielly and allows Babcock to move Hainsey down to 3rd pairing. Will be an excellent resource for Dermott.
The 29-year-old has one year remaining on his current contract after this season with a cap hit of $4 million. He registered four goals and 17 assists in 50 games for the Kings this season after putting up a career-high 42 points last season.
Grundstrom was a second-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2016 and has posted 29 points in 42 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL this season.
Durzi, meanwhile, was taken 52nd overall in last June's draft. This season, he's put up a combined eight goals and 28 points in 26 games with the Owen Sound Attack and Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier was one of three people sent to a Tampa Bay hospital following an accident that involved three buses Saturday.
The accident occurred around 1:40 p.m. on the Selmon Expressway when the lead bus was hit as it slowed down to exit the toll road by a trailing second bus, the Florida Highway Patrol said, according to Fox 13 News. A third bus then ran into the back of the second bus.
All three buses were en route to Tampa's annual Gasparilla parade.
The three passengers sent to the hospital all sustained minor injuries. Lecavalier's agent, Kent Hughes, said the 38-year-old is OK, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.
Two drivers have been cited for careless driving in relation to the incident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol's accident report, per Fox 13 News.
The game will be held at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas on Jan. 1.
During the 2019 Winter Classic broadcast between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Stars would host the event and would choose their opponent.
This will serve as the first outdoor game for each team and will be the southernmost event held in the league's history.
Crosby still plans to play in the All-Star Game on Saturday, Matisz adds.
The 31-year-old participated in the Accuracy Shooting Competition the last two years and won the event in 2017.
This is the eighth time Crosby has been named an All-Star, but he will make just his fourth appearance in the game. He currently leads the Penguins in scoring with 21 goals and 57 points in 45 games.
Things have not gone according to plan for the St. Louis Blues after an active offseason seemed to situate them among the NHL's elite.
The Blues sit three points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference but forward Ryan O'Reilly remains confident the club can contend.
"We haven't been perfect, but we are starting to get back into this fight and I am confident that we are going to play in the playoffs because of the way we work," O'Reilly said during All-Star Game media day, according to NHL.com's Shawn P. Roarke.
St. Louis has gone 6-3-1 in its last 10 games. O'Reilly, who attributes the turnaround to new-found confidence in the locker room, has posted 12 points over those 10 contests.
"We're starting to get a lot more consistent and we have a lot more confidence in our game," he said. "When bad things happen, we don't deviate from our game plan and we get back into it and understand that bad bounces happen and there are going to be breakdowns. But when that happens we have to come together and work out of it, and that has been the trend for us lately."
The Blues will exit their All-Star Game bye week with tough matchups against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators within their first five contests.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has decided what game he'll sit for as part of his one-game suspension for missing the NHL All-Star Game.
Ovechkin will play in Wednesday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Todd Reirden confirmed following Tuesday's loss to the San Jose Sharks. The decision means Ovechkin will miss the Capitals' first game following the break against the Calgary Flames Feb. 1.
He will be eligible to return to the lineup for Feb. 3's contest against the Boston Bruins.
The 33-year-old announced at the beginning of the month he would not attend this year's installment, even after being named captain of the Metropolitan Division, stating that his body "needs a rest."
Ovechkin has attended seven All-Star Games during his 14-year career. With a hat trick on Tuesday, he now has a league-leading 36 goals in 49 games.
