Jackets players handle 2 stars’ contract status

Players weren’t the only ones who were prepared for the Blue Jackets’ only visit to Toronto this season.

A large Toronto media contingent was ready, too, eager to inquire about the unresolved contract situations with Russian stars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin. Both are in the final year of their deals, which means they could become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

The Blue Jackets have avoided locker-room discontent, a subject they were asked about in Toronto.

“I think the guys have handled themselves very well,” coach John Tortorella said. “We’ve had some very honest meetings early in the season about that situation. That’s going to be around us all year long. We’ve got to be able to handle that stuff. I think the two guys that we’re talking about have handled themselves very well, too, as far as just being the best they can be and not getting involved in all the noise around it.”

There actually hasn’t been much noise about it around Columbus.

Panarin rarely gives interviews, declining them without the Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is unable to stop what proved to be Monday’s night’s winning goal, scored by Toronto’s Zach Hyman with less than five minutes to play.

aid of an interpreter, while Bobrovsky said he wouldn’t take questions about his contract this season after addressing it on the first day of training camp.

Other than an early slump by Bobrovsky,

which he has overcome, the contract situations haven’t affected either of them — which, again, was a topic of interest in Toronto. How have they done it?

“I just think (it’s) the room,” captain Nick Foligno said. “We’re pretty confident in ourselves, and that stuff is out of our control. You talk about it, and it’s cliché, but it’s really the truth. Those guys have a decision to make, and we’ve done everything we can to make it an attractive place to play. It’s their decision. I don’t think any of us take it personally.”

It didn’t take Cam Atkinson long to keep his hot streak going Monday in a 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs, racking up a goal and assist in the first period.

His team-leading 13th goal gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead and also extended his goal and point streaks to a career-high five games. Atkinson has seven goals, three assists and 10 points in that stretch, which has boosted his scoring total to 22 points — tied with Panarin for the team lead.

“I’m putting myself in good positions, I think that’s plain and simple,” said Atkinson, who was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday. “My linemates are making good passes, and I’m just burying them.”