The Blue Jackets are open for business regarding their fourth overall pick in next week’s draft, GM and president of hockey operations Don Waddell said today (via Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch). They wouldn’t be looking at shopping the pick for an immediate roster upgrade, though.
Moving back in the draft is the only option if they’re parting with the pick, Waddell implied. He said “the price is high” to get them to do it, citing multiple other teams in the top 10 are also listening to offers to swap their picks.
If they don’t move the pick, the Blue Jackets are looking at their fourth top-10 pick in a row. Previous selections include Kent Johnson (fifth overall, 2021), David Jiříček (sixth overall, 2022) and Adam Fantilli (third overall, 2023).
Other quick hits from Waddell at this morning’s media availability:
- Columbus hasn’t had any substantive trade discussions involving Patrik Laine yet, Waddell said (via Hedger). He’s actively in contact with Laine’s representation about trade options, but isn’t yet talking to other teams while Laine is still receiving treatment in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Waddell said that when they do get to the point of making a trade, he’d like it to be for established talent in return (via the team’s Jeff Svoboda). Laine and the Blue Jackets are seemingly both happy with parting ways this summer. Among interested parties, the Kraken have already been linked to his services.
- Longtime NHL coach Bob Hartley has reached out to Waddell about the Blue Jackets’ vacancy, he confirmed (via Hedger). Hartley, who coached the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup in 2001, also worked under Waddell with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2003 to 2007. He hasn’t coached in the league since a four-year run with the Flames from 2012 to 2016, however. His only experience since has come overseas with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League, a post he held from 2018 to 2022. In 2021, Hartley was named the KHL’s Coach of the Year and guided Omsk to a Gagarin Cup championship.
Am I nuts, or have so many teams dangled their 1st-round picks this year that you have to conclude no one is confident in the quality of this draft class (outside of Celebrini, and maybe Levshunov) ???
I don’t see it that way – I see it as the second wave of prospects after Celebrini is so strong that there isn’t much of a difference between picking 4th and picking 9th.
Not nuts but a tad gullible if you believe everything you read online.
The difference between picking 4th and 9th is 5.
Buium should be a strong one too.
Expecting an “established talent” for guy coming out of player assistance who can’t play defense, can’t stay healthy and is making $8.7m? I believe the actual statement was a “hockey trade” rather than “established talent”… so how about Columbus retains half and gets a bag of hockey pucks in return… there’s a hockey trade.
Due to the acquisition cost of other players and laines elite scoring ability I want him to be who the habs trade for this draft/off season. What MTL lacks most above all else is goal scorers and haven’t had an elite one sense Kovalev played there. I think Laine could be had for something like Armia, 2nd round pick and a young forward or dman. This dependent of course on what they draft in round 1, the habs have an over flow of middle-top 6 potential young forwards and a plethora of nhl ready dmen, albeit mostly LH shots. I see MTL right now as having at least 8 nhl dmen and kovacevic who is best a 6/7.
I’d say Armia, a B prospect and heavy salary retention; if no retention then it’s Josh Anderson straight across. Laine’s stock can’t be much lower.