Panarin is still bitter about getting traded by the Hawks!

The trade deadline is fast approaching and while Artemi Panarin is definitely staying put with the New York Rangers, trade talks bring back awful memories. 

On Wednesday, the Russian star player revealed to the Daily Herald how upset he was about getting traded by the Chicago Blackhawks in the summer of 2017. 

And how he still is. 

“When I played here in Chicago I (thought) I would play here my whole life,” Panarin said after his win over the Hawks on Wednesday. “And then that happened. It still confuse(s) me.”

Panarin thought he was going to stay: he had even convinced his agent to ask for a discount. He wanted to be a Hawk for life even if he was sacrificing money. 

But he ended up paying the price: he was shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

“I was not ready for that. It was a big surprise for me. I feel bad after trade.”

While he may be still bitter about that trade, there is no way he is moving from New York, where he ended up inking a seven-year, $81.5 million deal with the Rangers.

“I’m in New York right now and there’s nothing else I can say about it,” he said.

Maybe the Hawks would want to go back in time and forget the trade. But for now, Panarin isn’t forgetting either.