Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Blue Jackets Rumors

2017-18 Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the NHL season now just a couple of days away, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come.  Today, we focus on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Last Season: 50-24-8 record (108 points), third in Metropolitan Division (lost in the first round to the Pittsburgh Penguins)

Remaining Cap Space: $7.99MM per CapFriendly

Key Additions: F Artemi Panarin (trade, Chicago)

Key Departures: F Brandon Saad (trade, Chicago), F Scott Hartnell (buyout), F Sam Gagner (free agency, Vancouver), D Kyle Quincey (free agency, Minnesota), F William Karlsson (expansion, Vegas), F David Clarkson (trade, Vegas), F Keegan Kolesar (trade, Vegas), F Josh Anderson (unsigned RFA)

[Related: Blue Jackets Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Pierre-Luc DuboisPlayer To Watch: F Pierre-Luc Dubois – When Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen strode towards the podium at the 2016 draft, holding the third-overall pick almost everyone in the building expected him to select Finnish forward Jesse Puljujarvi. Puljujarvi had been neck and neck with Patrik Laine for much of the year as the potential second-overall pick, and had only fallen to a close third in recent months. Despite the obvious talent in Puljujarvi, Kekalainen went after the more important position and selected Pierre-Luc Dubois, the second best center available in the draft (behind just Auston Matthews). That selection was surprising, and early indications may have had fans calling for their GM’s head.

Dubois was sent back to junior and struggled mightily early for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, not even playing center full-time. It looked like it might be a disappointing season for a player who had such high hopes until a mid-season trade to Blainville-Boisbriand turned things around. Dubois would start showing his dominant physical presence once again, and recorded 59 points in 41 games down the stretch and into the playoffs. He was a more well-rounded player, and showed he could be ready for the jump sooner than initially thought.

That jump is about to happen as Dubois has survived all the Columbus cuts and is penciled into the lineup for opening night. Meanwhile, Puljujarvi had a disappointing camp and was sent back to the AHL to begin the year. While those two will be tied together for some time, it seems likely that Dubois will be given every chance to succeed this year with the Blue Jackets. While he’ll begin the season as a winger, there is still a real chance he ends up in the middle at some point. If he could lock down that role, it would be a huge advantage for a club that has some of the best forward depth in the league.

Key Storyline: In 16 seasons since the Blue Jackets were added to the NHL, the franchise has won exactly three playoff contests. Last year marked just the third time the team had been to the postseason, and they have still yet to make it past the first round. That seems destined to change over the next few years, as the Blue Jackets proved last season that they were one of the premiere clubs in the league. With 108 points, they amazingly finished third in their division but should be pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers once again for the top spot.

With a Hart Trophy-caliber goaltender, elite defense corps, the reigning coach of the year and a lineup featuring a solid mix of size, skill and speed there is no one they shouldn’t be able to play with. Still, the playoff demons are there for this club and the structure could backfire once again. Even with their 100+ point season they were forced to face the Penguins in the first round, and could face a similar fate this year should they not be able to take down the top spot. While they can’t look too far ahead, the playoffs are the real test for this team.

Josh Anderson, Blue Jackets Still Apart On Contract Length

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

  • Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver reports that Josh Anderson and the Columbus Blue Jackets are negotiating over term, not money as the team would like to get him under contract for three years. Whether this information is coming from the agent or team is unclear, but one would hope the situation can be resolved quickly if salaries have been agreed upon. Anderson remains unsigned going into the season, and will miss the opener unless he signs in the next day or so.

The Other Option For Josh Anderson And Andreas Athanasiou

at CDT | by 6 Comments

There are just two remaining restricted free agents in the league in Columbus winger Josh Anderson and Red Wings winger Andreas Athanasiou.  Both players appear to be at an impasse when it comes to multi-year contract talks and it has been suggested that they could go overseas for the season and suit up in the Olympics.

While that would solve a problem in terms of getting them playing time and a paycheck (not to mention a nice bonus of playing in the Olympics, an opportunity that wouldn’t typically be afforded to them), there would still one other problem that will be lingering, a lack of arbitration rights.

Both Anderson and Athanasiou are coming off of their entry-level contracts so arbitration isn’t an option for them and that will still be the case a year from now if they play overseas for the full season.  In theory, an offer sheet is a possibility but if a team was willing to extend one by now at a salary that the player wants, it would have already been signed.

As a result, this is a rare circumstance where the teams hold a lot more leverage than they typically do at other times in restricted free agency and that’s likely part of the reason that there hasn’t been much movement lately on either side, short of Anderson reportedly asking for a trade.  And even with that, it’s not likely that Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen will be willing to entertain that option considering how hard they worked to keep him away from Vegas in expansion not to mention the precedent it could set in negotiations with future players down the road.

While it would seem like both players are basically at an impasse, there is another option that isn’t really being discussed too much.  Pretty much all contract talks thus far have been multi-year deals but why not focus on a one-year pact instead?

While Anderson and Athanasiou would likely be leaving a bit of money on the table for 2017-18, a one-year contract would also set them up with arbitration eligibility next summer.  The threat of having an arbitrator side with their numbers in a hearing shifts at least some of the negotiating leverage back in their favor.

Meanwhile, the teams would get their players under contract and playing for them which is the desired outcome while also allowing them some more time to try to hammer out a long-term deal; both players could sign extensions as early as July 1st.  In Detroit’s case, getting Athanasiou a bit cheaper would also help in their efforts to work around a tight salary cap situation this season.

Of course, finding the right salary number on a one-year deal is easier said than done.  However, it would appear that there’s a better chance of trying to bridge the gap on a contract like that than a multi-year one considering the fact little progress has been made since July.

There are still a few more days before the regular season gets underway so there is still time for Columbus and Detroit to work out multi-year contracts with their respective players.  But if talks can’t gain traction soon, the time might be right to compromise and focus on a one-year deal instead.

Josh Anderson Requests Trade From Columbus Blue Jackets

at CDT | by 3 Comments

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Josh Anderson saga has come to a head. The unsigned restricted free agent has requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is a big swing in what had thought to have been a regular negotiation up to this point. Though the two sides had been firm in where they stood, requesting a trade likely signals that they don’t see a deal being completed anytime soon. That said, both Pierre LeBrun and Aaron Portzline of The Athletic report that GM Jarmo Kekalainen has not received a trade request as of yet.

Josh AndersonAnderson, 23, is coming off his entry-level contract at the perfect time in his career. The big-bodied forward scored 17 goals last season, and provides a versatile style that can move up and down the lineup. He’s made it clear that he would be willing to play in Europe for a year and suit up in the Olympics if he wasn’t offered a fair deal, but with cap space available this year and next, it always seemed as though something would get done.

The Blue Jackets for their part have made it clear that they could move on without him. Head coach John Tortorella hinted that Anderson would have to fight for his job when he returned from his holdout, and the team has refused to give in to any contract demands above what they deem reasonable.

All of this is not to say that a trade will be consummated. Last year, we saw Jacob Trouba go through a similar negotiation, requesting a trade out of Winnipeg because of the role he was expected to play. Eventually, Trouba would sign during the season for two years and move into a prominent role. He’ll be up for another contract after this season, but is now a key part of the Jets going forward.

Anderson on the other hand doesn’t seem to be asking for a bigger role, just respect on a bigger contract. Connor Brown, a similarly-aged player coming off his entry-level deal was given three years and $6.3MM from the Maple Leafs, but that was perhaps a bit of a hometown discount. Brown scored 20 goals in his rookie season, but isn’t as physical as Anderson. Sam Bennett received just two years at $1.95MM, even with more experience and draft pedigree than either Anderson or Brown. Bennett is also a center, but had a disappointing season in 2016-17 with only 13 goals.

If the Blue Jackets did examine trading Anderson, it’s likely they would find takers from all around the league. Teams are always looking for young depth forwards with upside, which is exactly what he brings. Though he may not be a perennial 20-goal scorer, he could fit into several contending lineups as a relatively inexpensive option on the wing. Columbus, who went out of their way at the expansion draft to protect him from the Vegas Golden Knights, would need to get back substantial value even if he’s continuing to hold out. The player has little leverage at this point, unless he wants to play the rest of his career overseas.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Overseas Notes: Jagr, Zherdev, Salmela, Pogge

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

NHL legend Jaromir Jagr will surely keep pushing for an NHL roster spot, even if it takes him through the 2018 Winter Olympics and his 45th birthday to finally land a gig with a contender down the stretch. In the mean time though, Jagr finally has a place to call home for 2017-18 season. Unsurprisingly, it’s Czech club HC Kladno, of whom Jagr is a part owner. Czech hockey news source “Hokej.cz” was the first to report (link in Czech) Jagr’s plans, and even goes so far as to say that Jagr should be ready for game action by Saturday. Now, Kladno was always the fallback plan for Jagr, so this announcement doesn’t eliminate the possibility that Jagr could still sign in the NHL or KHL, as has been most recently rumored, at any time. What it does mean, is that the ageless wonder is going to keep playing, one way or another.

  •  Latvian KHL club Dinamo Riga took a hit earlier today when former NHL forward T.J. Galiardi terminated his contract with the team following a hot start to his season. However, Riga was ready to react accordingly, as they soon after announced the addition of 2003 4th overall pick Nikolai Zherdev. Zherdev, a name that many in North America equate with missed opportunity, was a top pick of the young Columbus Blue Jackets organization more than a decade ago. While a one-dimensional scoring forward, Zherdev’s talent was undeniable. In four seasons with the Jackets, Zherdev recorded 76 goals and 105 assists in 283 games; he was also a -52. Columbus traded Zherdev to the Rangers in 2008-09, where he again was a highly successful scorer, but Zherdev left the team after the season, returning home to Russia. After a season in the KHL, Zherdev attempted an NHL comeback with the Flyers, but didn’t have the same gusto to his game and headed back across the Atlantic in the off-season. Since the young age of 26, Zherdev has been playing in the KHL and has struggled with health and inconsistency for much of that time. Zherdev was already released after just two games with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk earlier this season, but hopes he can find a more permanent home with a Riga club in need of as much help as it can get.
  • While Riga is deep up front, even after the loss of Galiardi, they don’t enjoy the same talent on the back end. They helped themselves with that problem today as well, inking veteran defenseman Anssi Salmela to a one-year deal. The 33-year-old Finn played in 112 NHL games between 2008 and 2011, bouncing between the New Jersey Devils and Atlanta Thrashers, but managing to play a respectable and reliable stay-at-home role in both locations. Salmela has done more bouncing around since heading back to Europe; he’s jumped from team-to-team and league-to-league in the KHL and Swedish Hockey League, including a strong showing with Linkoping just last season. Salmela will add some experience and leadership for the Dinamo as they look to be build upon their last-place roster.
  • Another NHL veteran finding employment overseas in goaltender Justin Pogge. After losing starter Ville Kolppanen, Swedish club Rogle BK reached out to the reliable journeyman. The team announced (link in Swedish) the new deal today, comparing Pogge to former keeper Anders Lindback. Pogge sat on an NHL bench as recently as 2012, but has actually not seen any big league action since the end of his rookie year in 2008-09. Pogge has played in Italy, Sweden, and most recently Slovakia, with the KHL’s HC Slovan Bratislava last year, and has actually fared well for himself since leaving North America behind. He has a chance to continue an altogether impressive European career as he begins his time with Rogle this season.

Poll: The Fate Of The Remaining RFA’s

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Notable players have begun to be cut from training camps and placed on waivers as the season draws closer, under two weeks away now. Yet, two restricted free agents still have yet to even sign a new contract, nevertheless compete in camp. Columbus’ Josh Anderson and Detroit’s Andreas Athanasiou still remain unsigned long after agreements were reached in more difficult RFA cases like those of David Pastrnak and Sam Bennett. Not only do the pair still not have contracts for the coming year, but seemingly no progress has been made recently either.

After it was reported more than a week ago that there was a “vast gap” in negotiations between Anderson and the Blue Jackets, a recent update stated that “no progress” had been made since then either. The newest piece of information has Anderson traveling to Switzerland, where he could potentially meet with several NLA teams. Anderson has also spoken about the possibility of starring for Team Canada at the Olympics. Anderson scored 17 goals for Columbus last year, which would be quite a lot of production for a team chasing a division title to lose.

Athanasiou is beyond overseas speculation; he has several hard offers on the table from KHL clubs. While “talks continue” between the two sides, there has been no concrete news for days. The “Riley Sheahan-to-Pittsburgh” rumor, that is supposedly contingent on an agreement with Athanasiou, has obviously not happened either, as it has been all quiet from both the Red Wings and their talented, young player. Athanasiou scored 29 points in 64 games for the struggling Wings last year. Can a team lacking much game-breaking talent afford to lose such a player?

There are a lot of different ways that this could all end up. Either or both could simply sign with their current teams, whether it be in the coming weeks or early in the season like several 2016 cases. Either one could be traded to a team with greater need and greater ability to sign them to a deal that comes closer to their desired term and salary. Or, the nuclear option, both have expressed and interest (read: threatened) in going overseas and could pull the trigger if their team will not sign or trade them. Take a crack at the poll below and sort through a variety of endings to these RFA sagas:

What will happen to Anderson and Athanasiou
Both sign with their respective teams 34.75% (90 votes)
Both play overseas 18.15% (47 votes)
Anderson signs, Athanasiou plays in KHL 13.13% (34 votes)
Both traded 11.20% (29 votes)
Athanasiou signs, Anderson traded 8.49% (22 votes)
Anderson signs, Athanasiou traded 8.11% (21 votes)
Athanasiou signs, Anderson plays in NLA 6.18% (16 votes)
Total Votes: 259

John Mitchell Signs PTO With Columbus Blue Jackets

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Well that free agency didn’t last long. Just after the Chicago Blackhawks released John Mitchell from his professional tryout, the Columbus Blue Jackets have snatched him up and signed him to a similar agreement. The Jackets got a good look at Mitchell this week, when they took on the Blackhawks in Tuesday night’s preseason action.

Mitchell played just under 10 minutes in that game, but does have a longer track record of NHL success. He’s scored double-digit goals in five different seasons, and even had a career-high of 32 points in 2013-14. It’s unlikely that will translate into an NHL opportunity in Columbus, but he can provide some more experience and a fresh body to insert into the rest of the exhibition schedule.

Columbus has their fair share of young players vying for full-time roles, and bringing in veteran competition is a motivational tactic of many coaching staffs. Mitchell will certainly be incentivized to push as hard as he can, knowing that this could be his last chance in the NHL. At age 32, he’s only seen the playoffs a single time in his career and is coming off a dreadful season with the Colorado Avalanche.

No Progress In Josh Anderson Contract Talks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Still holding out looking for a more favorable contract, restricted free agent Josh Anderson has now missed a week of training camp. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that there has been “no progress” between the two sides, which will only clench Blue Jackets’ fans’ teeth even tighter.

Anderson had a breakout season last year, scoring 17 goals in his first full-time chance in the NHL, but head coach John Tortorella has already been clear that he’s willing to insert someone else into the lineup. While it’s unlikely Anderson wouldn’t have a spot upon his return, every day he’s away from the team is another chance for some of their young players to impress the coaching staff.

There is something else he’s missing by not taking part in any preseason games. The league has clearly made a change to the way they call slashing and faceoff penalties, and though the rest of the league has a chance to get used to these rules, Anderson and Andreas Athanasiou are just watching from the sideline. If contracts are signed just before the start of the year, it will be interesting to see if they are disproportionately penalized in the early going.

Johnson Wants To Remain In Columbus; Wennberg Receives Work Visa

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

  • Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson is entering the final year of his contract and told Tom Reed of The Athletic (subscription required) that his priority is to stay with Columbus. Johnson is set to earn $5MM in salary this coming season but may be hard-pressed to match that amount on the open market unless his point production gets back into the 30-40 point range after tallying just 37 combined over the last two years.
  • Still with the Blue Jackets, center Alexander Wennberg has finally received his new work visa and has rejoined the team, notes Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch. Although Wennberg didn’t change teams this offseason, his new six-year, $29.4MM deal required him to go through the formal process once again.

Sam Vigneault Out Four To Six Weeks With Broken Finger

at CDT | by 2 Comments

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets made some cuts today from their training camp roster, but will also be without Sam Vigneault for the next four to six weeks through no fault of his own. The young NCAA signing that made his professional debut last year in the AHL broke his finger, and will have to delay the start of his 2017-18 campaign. Vigneault only had an outside shot at cracking the Blue Jackets roster out of camp, but could potentially be an injury call-up during the year should he show the same combination of power and skill that he exhibited at Clarkson University.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top