A report surfaced Tuesday that Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen was shopping star forward Artemi Panarin due to the player’s unwillingness to open contract negotiations.

Kekalainen released a statement on Tuesday saying that the team's stance on Panarin has not changed and he hopes to keep the Russian winger long-term.

“Artemi is an elite National Hockey League player,” Kekalainen said. “Our position has been that we want him to be a Blue Jacket for many years and that has not changed.

“He has one more year left on his contract, so there is plenty of time to work toward that end. Should anything change, we will address it at that time an any decision we make will be in the best interest of our club.”

The Blue Jackets acquired Panarin last summer from the Chicago Blackhawks for winger Brandon Saad. He scored 27 goals and posted a career-high 82 points in his first season with Columbus, leading the team in nearly every offensive category.

Panarin's agent, Dan Milstein, told the Columbus Dispatch that it wasn’t "a proper time" to comment on the report. 

A two-time 30-goal scorer, Panarin is expected to be paid among the NHL's elite on his next contract. He carries a $6 million cap hit for next season.