Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

With the trade deadline now just weeks away, we’re going to start taking a closer look at each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?

After struggling mightily in 2015-16, the Columbus Blue Jackets weren’t expected to be a big threat this year.  However, they have been one of the more pleasant surprises through the first half and not only find themselves in the thick of the playoff race but also in a battle for top spot league-wide.

Record

33-13-5, T-2nd in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$9.1MM – full-season cap hit ($13.9MM with LTIR), 44/50 contracts, via CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2017: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd*, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th
2018: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd*, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th

* – Columbus owes one of those second round picks to Vancouver as compensation for hiring head coach John Tortorella.

Trade Chips

Given that they’re a top team, it’s unlikely that they’re going to deal anyone off of their active roster.  Accordingly, their trade bait consists of the draft picks noted above and youngsters who haven’t quite made the full-time jump to the NHL but would be intriguing to rebuilding teams.  Given what they’re likely to target GM Jarmo Kekalainen likely won’t consider giving up their top young assets such as wingers Oliver Bjorkstrand and Sonny Milano.

On top of that the Jackets have a pair of young netminders who are slated to be exposed in the Vegas expansion draft that could be of interest to some teams as potential backup goalies for next season.  It’s unlikely that they’d deal both but one moving would certainly be a possibility.

Five Players To Watch For: LW Paul Bittner, G Anton Forsberg, LW Markus Hannikainen, D Dillon Heatherington, G Joonas Korpisalo

Team Needs

1) Veteran Backup Goaltender – With Curtis McElhinney not holding down the backup job, youngsters Forsberg and Korpisalo have been splitting the number two duties behind Sergei Bobrovsky.  While both have fared well at the minor league level, neither have had enough NHL success for the team to be comfortable with one of them stepping in for Bobrovsky if he were to go down in the middle of a playoff series.  Getting a veteran with some postseason experience would be a useful addition and is one that shouldn’t cost one of their top young assets either.

2) Center Depth – Columbus has a pair of centers who struggle considerably at the faceoff dot in Alexander Wennberg and William Karlsson.  With matchups being exploited that much more in the postseason, the Blue Jackets would stand to benefit from adding someone who is above average on the draw.

While the team has several capable fill-in options on the wings at AHL Cleveland, the same can’t be said down the middle.  They have Boone Jenner who can shift over from the wing (who is also quite strong at the dot) but since they can’t really expect one of their minor league centers to step in, they’ll have to look outside the organization to add any further depth and with center being a crucial position, they would be wise to explore the market for some help at that spot.