Late last night, it was reported that Columbus Blue Jackets star defenseman Seth Jones will not sign an extension with Columbus and plans to test the 2022 free-agent market. That’s a huge blow to a team that has lost a large chunk of their core players in the last few years. While general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has said in the past that the team intends to go into the season with Jones whether or not he signs a contract extension, that looks to have already changed.
The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline (subscription required) writes that much has changed around the philosophy now that John Davidson has rejoined the organization as President of Hockey Operations. In fact, while Davidson did not confirm the rumors that Elliotte Friedman passed along Saturday Night on Hockey Night in Canada, he made it clear that if Jones does not sign an extension, they will not hold onto the blueliner like the team did when they held onto Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky when both indicated they intended to test free agency at the end of the year in 2019. Both players instead opted to leave the team at the end of the season.
“The No. 1 thing we’d like to do is keep Seth,” Davidson told The Athletic on Sunday. “He has every right in the world to leave if he wants to not extend the contract, but we’ll do what’s best for our team. We just want players who want to be here. This is a different scenario (than in 2019). We were in a position (then) where we thought we had a chance to make a pretty good run at (the Stanley Cup). Beating Tampa Bay (in the first round) was great. Losing to Boston in six … it was a good series, and they lost in seven in the Final.”
With Columbus in a much different position than when they were a solid playoff contender, the team likely has no choice but to consider getting as much as they can for Jones. Portzline said that sources have told him that the team will likely begin shopping the defenseman immediately with the hope of trading him before the draft this summer.
“Whatever happens is going to be what’s the absolute best for the Blue Jackets franchise, period,” Davidson said. “That’s just how it works. Doesn’t matter if it’s Seth Jones or Joe Smith, the player has the right through the (collective bargaining agreement) to do what they feel is necessary for them and their careers. We want players who want to be in Columbus, who want to be Blue Jackets, and we’re going to continue to create that culture.”
The problem is…nobody actually WANTS to be a Blue Jacket.
One year before free agency is gonna bring back a decent return but not a windfall! Unless the team signs Jones when they deal for him.
To NJ for Severson & Zacha or Wood please
Can’t see Jones signing long term in New Jersey. I don’t think he wants to go through the rebuilding process. He’ll want to sign with a team that’s a contender or very close to contending. The Devils have good young players, but they are still a few years away
Throw $12 million at him and he will. They’re the only team with the long term cap space, unless he wants Ottawa or Detroit.
No, he won’t. He’ll take less to play for a contender than making $12 million for a team that is 3 or 4 years away.
Think it would take more than that to get him
@ericl, cite your sources. You are making very bold claims for not actually being Seth Jones.
Severson and Zacha is not even close to getting Seth Jones.
Like, not even in the ballpark.
lold at Severson and Zacha.
Start with their 1st rounder this year and maybe Mercer and youre in the ballpark.
Throw in a goalie and take Nylander’s salary.
The NHL needs to stop putting teams in ultra small markets like Columbus and Winnipeg. No one wants to play there. You’re about as marketable as someone playing in Baghdad. Nashville & Carolina are no better and frankly I’m shocked at the success of those teams.
Columbus isn’t an ultra small market. No one wants to deal with Jarmo and no one wants to live in Ohio. Not surprising.
NC and Tennessee are nice places to live lol. Not everything is flyover country.
Your being shocked says more about you than those 2 great markets.
You’ve obviously never been to Nashville. Great city with passionate fans. Also, Tennessee has no state income tax. That is a plus for a player signing a big contract
@kscheer, Genuinely curious, why does no one want to deal with Jarmo?
Columbus is one of the fastest growing places in the Midwest and lacks a lot of the crime the other midwest cities have. It is also not that expensive compared to other places like Chicago. Being the only major pro sport team there they have a good and dedicated fanbase that is growing. It never will match OSU football, but that’s fine. It is also a bigger market than Vegas and Buffalo.
Posted this on CapFriendly already. . . . Tampa Bay will get him:
To TAMPA BAY: Jones
To COLUMBUS: Foote, Cirelli, a conditional 2nd Rund Pick in 2023 (becomes a 1st if Jones extends OR the Lightning win the cup in 2022.
Are you sure that Tampa shouldn’t throw in Kucherov? I mean if you are going to overpay for an expiring contract, why not go all in on it?
Tampa has zero shot at extending Jones long term, he’s getting a massive contract and Tampa is already looking into the cap abyss after this season.
You have to look at teams who are close to contending, have strong farm systems, and some cap space.
The Rangers fit that, but you have to figure JD isn’t dealing with them. I think L.A. would be logical, as would the Avs.
You should probably go back to capfriendly and look at Tampas situation for next year. Theyre already OVER the cap by over 5 million with only 19 players signed. I just cant see it happening at all lol
While every team would like to have him, I am hard pressed to think of a team that needs him enough to pay what the Jackets have to get back to make the deal.
This idea has always befuddled me. “They have to get a huge haul”. Or they let him play out his contract in a season they will be non-competitive and get nothing. At this point, a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread is more than they get if he just walks.
Actually several players have said they love playing in Columbus. Players who have re-signed have said they did so because it is a great place to raise a family. Many former Blue Jackets have retired here. The CBJ offered Panarin more than the Rangers did. But his girl friend wanted to live in New York. Bob left because he was insulted when management made comments about his playoff mental toughness. Duchene was in love with the city of Nashville. Anderson and Dubois was all about the coaching staff and/or management. None of those reasons had anything to do with “living in Columbus”. It will be interesting to see what the feel for attracting players is now that Torts is gone. Despite his record, some guys didn’t want to play for him. As for Columbus, don’t knock it unless you have spent time here. I can think of 10 other cities where I scratch my head and say “Why would anyone play there?” But I don’t because I have not spent any extended time in those cities.
JD sounds a little bitter to me. He went from the life of Riley with the Rangers back to Columbus Ohio where players don’t want to be anymore. He should have done as told and fired Gorton. Gorton would’ve landed another good job anyway. Now JD upset his home and family conditions. Should have given it further thought and fired JG.
Boston should take a chance he’d be a good fit for them trade Griz DeBrusk and a 2nd for him
People will cry that I said Griz but the guys always injured and highly overrated and as for DeBrusk he needs a change and the bs need to move his soft azz