Columbus company offers Panarin free vodka for life to keep him a Blue Jacket

While pending free agent Artemi Panarin is expected to discuss his future with the Blue Jackets during the All-Star Break, fans in Columbus remain on edge, hoping to see the star forward stay as a Blue Jacket. 

The 27-year-old is in the final season of a two-year contract he signed in 2016, with the Chicago Blackhawks, who traded him to the Blue Jackets back in June 2017. Panarin has been eligible to sign a contract extension with the Blue Jackets since July 1 but said he would not have contract discussions during the season after the two sides failed to reach an agreement prior to training camp in September. It was rumoured that Panarin was more interested in signing and playing for a bigger market, though now, his agent, Dan Milstein, will speak with the Jackets and Panarin at the end of the month. 

In the meantime, Milstein is also listening to other offers: the ones coming from fans who want Panarin to remain a Blue Jacket. On Tuesday, a Columbus-based distillery tried to entice Panarin to stay and put a tempting offer on a local billboard, out for everyone to see. It promises the Russian forward free High Bank vodka for life! 

To make things even better, it was actually his agent that tweeted this. It is therefore quite encouraging for Columbus fans! 

Milstein added "that's a start", so the Blue Jackets will need to step it up. 

Panarin is one of two pending unrestricted free agents on the Blue Jackets, along with starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. We will see if a similar offer will be made to the star goalie. 

The Russian star isn't the only free agent to be offered an enticing deal on the side to remain with his team. Last summer, John Tavares was offered fresh daily bagels for life from a local Brooklyn bakery if he signed a contract extension with the New York Islanders. The star forward ended up signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, however, Vodka might tempt Panarin more than bagels did Tavares...