- Although the Columbus Blue Jackets are gearing up to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline, it does appear that one player could be returning to their lineup this season. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that forward Justin Danforth is skating 4-5 times per week and hopes to play again this year. Danforth was expected to miss 4-6 months after his surgery in late October to repair a labral tear, meaning that a late-season return could fall right in his expected recovery window.
Blue Jackets Rumors
Latest On Vladislav Gavrikov
Despite some conflicting reports, it does seem as though there has been movement in the Vladislav Gavrikov trade watch. The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman has been held out of the lineup for several games, and Aaron Portzline of The Athletic writes that he has “essentially already been traded.” The acquiring team just has other transactions to pull off before the deal can be made official.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period tweets that the team is the Boston Bruins, reporting that the two clubs have the framework of a trade in place. Boston is working to clear cap space, but Pagnotta notes that the Blue Jackets won’t wait around forever. Matt Porter of the Boston Globe adds that no official deal is in place, though the two teams have discussed Gavrikov.
The Bruins have just $1MM in LTIR relief and only 21 players on the roster, meaning a cap-clearing move would likely have to be made to fit Gavrikov in at all. That is, of course, unless the double-retention strategy that teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs have used comes to pass, though that would require even more assets from the Bruins.
Rumors have been swirling around the Bruins for weeks, with most pointing to left defense as the spot they will target in any deadline deals. Jakob Chychrun’s name had been thrown around, but Gavrikov has a considerably lower cap hit and will likely require fewer assets to acquire. That’s not to say he’ll be cheap, as we’ve seen with physical defensive defensemen in the past. Every contender wants to add depth at the deadline, and there are usually only a handful of defenders on the market capable of playing upwards of 20 minutes a night.
Latest On Vladislav Gavrikov
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov hasn’t played in three straight games since Columbus has held him out of the lineup for “trade-related reasons.” While seems unlikely that Gavrikov remaining sidelined is an ideal situation for any involved party, he still has not yet been traded as some other big names across the league have. But there could be a reason for that. According to The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, it’s believed the Jackets have a trade in place [for Gavrikov] that requires another transaction to take place first.” (subscription link)
Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has not commented on the lingering nature of Gavrikov’s trade-related absence, but it seems reasonable that a team interested in acquiring the defenseman would need to first make a move in order to pave the way for his arrival. Cap space around the league is heavily limited, and while Gavrikov is relatively inexpensive at a pro-rated portion of his $2.8MM AAV, some interested parties may still need to find a way to move money out or secure a third-party “cap broker” before they can afford Gavrikov. So, based on Portzline’s reporting, it seems wise to look out for any transactions that seem relatively anonymous or insignificant, as that move could be the one that gives the green light for a Gavrikov trade.
Joonas Korpisalo Expected To Draw Trade Interest
- Calls inquiring on the trade availability of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Dmitry Kulikov are poised to increase sharply as the market for Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov tightens. Marek noted on 32 Thoughts to “expect attention” to be paid to Kulikov by teams who miss out on Gavrikov. Kulikov, 32, is a steady left-shot defenseman who plays a solid defensive game and is currently the Ducks’ leader in penalty-killing ice time. He’s on an expiring $2.25MM AAV deal, and one would expect that the Ducks, with over $60MM in projected deadline cap space per CapFriendly, would have no issue retaining salary to make a deal work.
- Another name expected to generate interest around the trade deadline is that of Blue Jackets netminder Joonas Korpisalo. The pending unrestricted free agent’s box score numbers in 26 games this year are solid (.913 save percentage) and his underlying numbers are similarly good, if not better. On 32 Thoughts, Marek said to expect teams in need of goaltending help to target the one-time NHL All-Star Game selection.
Lower-Body Injury For Johnny Gaudreau
- The Blue Jackets announced (Twitter link) that winger Johnny Gaudreau will miss tonight’s game against Dallas due to a lower-body injury. That means his Ironman streak will come to an end at 349 games; only two players (Phil Kessel and Brent Burns) had longer active streaks. Gaudreau hasn’t been able to put up the production he had with Calgary last season but still has 52 points in 55 games, good for an 18-point point lead on Patrik Laine who sits second. Lane Pederson will make his Columbus debut in Gaudreau’s place.
Latest On Vladislav Gavrikov
- LeBrun also gave an update on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who’s scratched tonight for asset protection. He named the Edmonton Oilers as a fit for Gavrikov, as while their interest in San Jose Sharks superstar Erik Karlsson is well-documented, the financial aspect of the trade is likely too tough to work out. A swap with Gavrikov and oft-maligned forward Jesse Puljujarvi would save Edmonton money, as Gavrikov’s $2.8MM cap hit comes in $200,000 under Puljujarvi’s $3MM hit. Johnston also added that there may be some “sticker shock” for teams calling on Gavrikov, as Columbus is holding firm to an ask of a first-round, third-round, and fourth-round draft pick.
Vladislav Gavrikov Held Out For Trade-Related Reasons
4:55 pm: While Gavrikov has likely played his last game in Columbus, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes doesn’t expect a trade to come tonight. He tweeted Tuesday afternoon that “nothing is imminent” regarding Gavrikov and that Columbus remains aggressive in trying to find a trade partner.
9:34 am: We have a new catchphrase in the NHL. Vladislav Gavrikov will be held out of tonight’s Columbus Blue Jackets’ lineup for “trade-related reasons.” The big defender has been one of the top trade targets for weeks, given his expiring contract and versatility.
Gavrikov, 27, carries a cap hit of just $2.8MM, meaning basically any contender in the league could fit him in with some creative accounting. Given that Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets is reporting no trade is imminent, this move will likely cause all interested teams to put together their best offer.
This isn’t a player that will wow you offensively, but Gavrikov can do just about everything else. He is physical, defends hard, blocks a ton of shots, and can help any penalty kill. Plus, even though offense isn’t his calling card, he can effectively move the puck out of his end – not just bang it off the glass. That’s how he ended up with 33 points last season, even if that number is probably going to be a career-high or close to it.
At last year’s deadline, defensive defensemen with expiring contracts brought back a significant amount at the deadline. Josh Manson cost a second-round pick, and prospect Drew Helleson, while Ben Chiarot even landed a first-round pick for the Montreal Canadiens. The former ended up winning a Stanley Cup and re-signing, while the latter didn’t contribute much in the postseason, and then moved on in free agency.
You can see how it might be difficult to jump into the bidding on a player like Gavrikov, even if he fits a need. In this case, Gavrikov’s agent has already been given permission to discuss an extension with interested teams. That will maximize the Blue Jackets’ return and give acquiring clubs a bit of security past this one playoff run.
Given his age, an extension is buying out prime years for the big Russian. Gavrikov won’t turn 28 until late November.
Tim Berni Recalled By Columbus
- Similarly, the Columbus Blue Jackets have brought Tim Berni back up, ahead of their back-to-back against the Maple Leafs that starts tomorrow night. The 22-year-old defenseman has played 28 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring his first NHL goal and racking up 18 penalty minutes.
Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets
With the All-Star break now upon us, the trade deadline looms large and is just a month away. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
When the Columbus Blue Jackets signed Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year, $68.25MM contract last summer, and followed it up with a four-year, $34.8MM deal for Patrik Laine, the message was clear: it’s time for a new identity. Seth Jones had been traded, and there was to be a new duo leading the way to contention. Gaudreau and Laine seemed like a perfect fit stylistically, and the team committed nearly $20MM per season to put them together.
Unfortunately, you can’t predict injuries, and the absences have decimated the Blue Jackets. Laine has missed time on several occasions, Zach Werenski was ruled out early for the season, Jakub Voracek’s career is in doubt, and the injured reserve list has had at least five or six players on a constant rotation through the year. The Blue Jackets’ season is over, and now they will be focused on securing the best draft position by losing as many games as possible down the stretch. Trading off expiring assets is a must.
Record
15-32-4, 8th in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$8.87MM in LTIR relief (with the possibility for much more), 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2023: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd, CBJ 3rd, CGY 3rd, CBJ 4th, WPG 4th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th
2024: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th
Trade Chips
The big one in Columbus this year is Vladislav Gavrikov, who has already drawn interest from a number of contending teams. The pending free agent defenseman has likely had his name mentioned more by NHL media over the last few months than his entire career to this point. While he won’t offer a ton of offensive production, the 6’3″ shutdown defender has averaged nearly 21 minutes a night for his four-year NHL career, racking up nearly 400 blocked shots, and over 300 hits during that stretch.
This isn’t a bruiser, exactly – Gavrikov did have 33 points last season for Columbus – but he also isn’t going to come in and run a powerplay. His fit is likely on a contender’s second or third pairing while logging big penalty-killing minutes. Luckily, for the Blue Jackets, that’s exactly what playoff hopefuls are looking for. Most top teams already have their powerplay quarterbacks and top-pairing roles secured internally and are just looking to add a competent defender to the mix before a long playoff grind. With Gavrikov’s $2.8MM cap hit, almost anyone in the league could afford to fit him in, given the right circumstances.
There is also someone like Joonas Korpisalo, who could be acquired as a backup goaltender, though his performance the last few years has been anything but consistent. On an expiring $1.3MM contract, he has a .908 save percentage this season through 23 appearances but was sub-.900 in each of the last two years. As a break-glass option, he might be useful, but there aren’t any true contenders looking at him as a legitimate starter.
One of the most interesting chips that the Blue Jackets have is Gustav Nyquist, who recently was ruled out for the rest of the regular season. That doesn’t mean playoffs, and his camp immediately put the word out that the veteran forward would work hard in hopes of returning for some postseason action. If that is possible, any team currently in LTIR could acquire him (as long as they can creatively open the required space for one day), stash him until the playoffs, and then activate him whenever he’s ready.
The Blue Jackets are actually experienced in this kind of transaction. In 2021, Columbus traded Riley Nash to the Toronto Maple Leafs while he was injured, in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick. If Nash was able to rehab and appear for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs, the pick would upgrade to a sixth-rounder – which it did. Nyquist is a much better offensive piece than Nash ever was, and the Blue Jackets may be able to secure something even better, should his rehab go well over the next month.
Other potential trade chips: D Marcus Bjork, D Gavin Bayreuther, F Eric Robinson
Team Needs
1) Centers: Unlike some of the other teams fighting for the basement, Columbus isn’t going through a tear-down rebuild. They are actually on their way up, with young players installed all over the roster. One of the biggest problems to this point, however, has been the lack of depth down the middle. As much as the team loves captain Boone Jenner, to be competitive he can’t really operate as a first-line player. Jack Roslovic has never taken that next step, and youngsters like Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson are still finding their way. The Blue Jackets may be one of the rare teams that actually want a veteran back in deadline deals, someone who can step in and play meaningful minutes for them right away. That doesn’t mean over-the-hill stars, but in-their-prime players who can have an impact.
2) Draft picks: That’s not to say they won’t be loading up on picks. Capital in this year’s draft is precious, especially if the Blue Jackets want to make any offseason moves to improve the roster. The goaltending is currently an issue, and they probably need to target another defenseman at some point to replace Gavrikov’s outgoing minutes. Adding some picks at the deadline would give Jarmo Kekalainen a lot more flexibility in making deals on the draft floor.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Latest On Gustav Nyquist
The Columbus Blue Jackets got some bad news when it was announced on February 1st that veteran forward Gustav Nyquist would miss the rest of the regular season. Not only would Nyquist’s absence be felt by the Blue Jackets on the ice, but many were disappointed that Columbus would not have the opportunity to trade Nyquist in order to recoup some assets before his contract expires at the end of this season.