The Blue Jackets have made both of their first-round picks in the 2025 draft available for trade, general manager Don Waddell told Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.
Columbus enters the draft with the No. 14 and No. 20 overall selections, the latter of which they acquired from the Wild in last November’s David Jiricek trade. It’s the first time since 2022 that the Jackets haven’t held a top-five pick, and the first time since 2020 that they haven’t held a top-10 selection.
Their lower draft position comes as a result of their ninth-place finish in the Eastern Conference, narrowly missing out on the final wild card spot to the Canadiens by two points. Under new head coach Dean Evason, many of the pieces Columbus has assembled with their wealth of top draft picks over the past few years took significant strides in 2024-25 and fueled the club to its first 40-win season since 2018-19. That was the year the Jackets upset the 128-point Lightning in a first-round sweep to win the first of two playoff series in franchise history.
Just two players, Boone Jenner and Zach Werenski, remain from that club. A full rebuild has gone on since, started by former GM Jarmo Kekalainen and guided nearly over the finish line by Waddell. After spending much of 2024-25 in a playoff position despite multiple core pieces missing significant chunks of the season with injuries, a playoff spot will be the expectation for the Jackets next season.
That, plus the fact that they’ve already assembled one of the best prospect pools in the league with their wealth of draft picks so far this decade, makes one – if not both – of this year’s first-round selections expendable, especially since they’re mid-round picks in a weaker draft class. Waddell has plenty of financial flexibility to augment his young core in free agency this summer, boasting $41.3MM in cap space with only six roster spots to fill, but it makes sense he’d consider leveraging his draft capital for a trade pickup amid a thin free agent class outside of the top few names.
If Waddell manages to agree to terms on an extension with pending UFA defenseman Ivan Provorov, the back end won’t be an area of concern for the Jackets entering next year, aside from some depth pickups. An impact top-line forward will be the main goal for the Jackets this summer, ideally to help push the aging Jenner down to a more comfortable middle-six role, as well as taking some pressure off of No. 1 center Sean Monahan to have a repeat performance of his unexpectedly resurgent 2024-25. Nikolaj Ehlers and Mitch Marner are the only two UFA options this summer who are under the age of 30 and are coming off seasons in which they operated at a 60-point pace.
They’ll face fierce bidding competition on both targets on the open market. While they have the cap space to match any offer they receive elsewhere, banking on certain UFA pickups – or even the assumption they’ll reach free agency – is never 100%. Leveraging what Columbus views as a redundant asset for a trade pickup is an understandably attractive workaround.
If there’s a legitimate starting goaltender to be had on the trade market as the offseason progresses, expect Columbus to make those picks available in a trade framework there as well. 23-year-old Jet Greaves likely solidified an opening-night spot in the fall after posting a sterling .938 SV% and 1.91 GAA in third-string duties last year, but they could look for an upgrade on veteran starter Elvis Merzlikins (26-21-5, .892 SV%, 3.18 GAA in 53 GP) to partner with him.
I think Columbus is fine with trading their 2 first round picks this upcoming draft because yes, they have much draft capital but also because this draft isn’t considered a deep draft class either. I’m sure they’ll have some potential buyers for those 2 respective first round picks pending on what Columbus is asking for. We’ll see what happens.
If blues sign restricted free agent goalie hofer, would Columbus be intrested? He looks like he’s going to be a great goalie but the blues aren’t trading binnington, and he has 2 years left. The blues have another up and comer in Ellis making hofer expendable. Would hofer or hofer plus be worth a late first in a weak draft? Could see these 2 teams pairing up on a trade
I doubt that fits what Columbus wants. They already have their comparable up-and-comer in Greaves. Would imagine they’re only looking for someone who’s more established as a reliable tandem/fringe starter option to pair with him in lieu of Merzlikins.
I liked the idea of Vejmelka to Columbus before Utah extended him, that’s more the sort of trade we’re looking at. Someone who’s a competent starter or established 1A option.
Thinking aloud, I wouldn’t mind seeing Columbus have a go at Kolosov or Fedotov in Philly… They’re “buy low” rebound projects that could realistically surpass Merzlikins in the depth chart as the year goes on. I don’t like Ersson as much as those two for this role; I think he caps out at a backup in the bottom half of the backup tier list. Throw a 5th rounder at them, see who thrives in training camp, and go from there. Even a straight “Tarasov/Merzlikins for Kolosov/Fedotov and a pick” pitch seems rational to me.
Demko
You heard it here first
Vancouver would do well by dangling Demko, but his health would mean the price would be buy-low… Canucks are allergic to draft picks as well.
Gudbranson at half salary for Demko
Gubby replaces Forbert as a better option.
I’ve like the way Waddell runs his teams, this move being no exception. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if he found a deal.