Yes, I feel like a scorned lover.
How could you not? Even as a pseudo-fan, writer thing, watching forward Artemi Panarin was like watching an artist at work.
That may sound like hyperbole but since the inception of the Columbus Blue Jackets, I have only seen one other player like him (who received his fair share of boos on his return to Nationwide Arena) and even then, I don't think they were on the same level. You know who I'm talking about.
When Panarin was working and moving all over the ice it was almost like he was floating. He moved from spot to spot with such ease and he avoided hits so frequently it didn't make a lot of sense.
Frankly, I took him for granted. He was an absolute joy to watch.
Early on in this Blue Jackets' season, we are seeing that the team does miss him an awful lot. The offense isn't scoring a whole lot, veteran players are seeing career lows. It isn't all Panarin's doing, but they are building a case that the Russian superstar mattered more than anyone wants to admit.
We see now that Pierre-Luc Dubois is still a monster even without Panarin, so it's nice to have that clarity. But now with his development hitting supernova status, I think about the untapped potential of the two together. It makes me sad, and that is part of fandom, you get what you want at times and other times you are left wanting more.
The Blue Jackets haven't reached the pinnacle of the sport and I hope I get to see it in my lifetime. The feeling we had with Panarin in our sweater is the closest I've felt so far.
It reminds you what fandom is at its best. Unmitigated love and when they are taken away from you, it is also unconditional hate.
It is why I am never going to blame anyone for booing Panarin. He left Ohio to go to the big city in New York. He left for parking garages and an actual home in Connecticut. His reason for leaving wasn't a competitive advantage or for more money; he wanted to get the hell out of Ohio.
That hurts my Ohioan inferiority complex. I love this place and I think it is great for what it is - meaning I won't get it confused with any of the major cities. You leave, though? I want to come back at you with full force.
Logically, I get why he left but it doesn't make it okay to me.
So I'll write and complain that I miss the diminutive Russian. He will get booed and Columbus fans will continue to remember this until he retires.
Panarin likely doesn't care. Why should he? He gets to jet-set in the offseason and be a star on one of the larger market teams in the NHL.
Still, in the back of my head, I wish he was doing it all in Columbus. This may reek of hopelessness and that is just fine with me; stellar players don't fall off of trees and the Blue Jackets know it well.
In the meantime, I'll wait for the next star to come to the team and who knows when he'll arrive.
