When the Blue Jackets traded for Artemi Panarin, they tossed the term "game breaker" around. A lot.
Fresh off another playoff series loss to a more opportunistic and skilled Pittsburgh Penguins team, GM Jarmo Kekalainen decided to shake things up. He brought in a dynamic and explosive offensive player in Panarin that could make something happen out of thin air, a quality that helped the Penguins outlast a scrappier and more workmanlike Blue Jackets team.
And now, as the Blue Jackets fight for their playoff lives seeking any shred of an advantage down the stretch, it could come down to Panarin being the difference-maker he was thought to be.
It didn't start off that fast for Panarin in Columbus. He scored his first goal on Oct. 13 and the season was more of a crescendo than a sprint. As he's developed chemistry with Pierre-Luc Dubois and, to a lesser extent, Cam Atkinson, we're beginning to see just how incredible this guy is. He's a building block, a foundational player that leads you to places you haven't been before. And even without as strong a supporting case in Columbus, Panarin's performance of late – let's say the last 10-15 games – may be what gets the Blue Jackets into the playoffs.
He's the Blue Jackets' leader in goals (21) and points (58) with a sliver of season left.
On Tuesday at Nationwide Arena, he was the best skater on the ice. He scored 16 seconds in, made a handful of silly-good plays including a laser pass to Zach Werenski that set up the game-deciding goal, and looked like a player who knew he was in control of his game and had an impact on the game.
That's something you just have within you. Panarin's got it.
For so many years, the Blue Jackets needed a player like Panarin. A guy who could get them a point or two even if they stunk throughout the game, or who scored a big goal in a big moment when everyone else seemed to be looking at each other. Stars do those things, and Panarin is one of the league's brightest even if he's a hair short of that upper echelon.
I'm on record: I think the Blue Jackets are headed back to the playoffs. And if they indeed are, I believe Panarin will have a key role in it. He's on a different level from his teammates right now and, after two eye-opening performances against San Jose and Vegas this week, I find myself eagerly awaiting the next time he steps on the ice.
YOU SHOULD BE READING
- Oh, you want more Panarin talk and analysis? Good. This week's Mid-Week Heat Check is all about the Bread Man.
- In yesterday's edition of The Fuse, we looked at this pivotal week for the Blue Jackets and how they can both get ahead and stay ahead.
Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
