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You're Going the Wrong Way! CBJ Sellers Now?

February 19, 2020, 11:34 AM ET [10 Comments]
Thomas Townsend
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Flyers are certainly on the rise, while Columbus is in free-fall.
In respect to Elvis, the first two goals that went in last night were quarks to say the least. Hayes' pass from below the goal line hit Peeke's skate then Elvis in the back before finding its way across the goal line. Couturier lost the puck on a breakaway due to Harrington's back check, but the puck went through the 5-hole anyway.

I'm not defending the Jackets chances to win that game, PHI seemed to have control all night and only needed 15 shots to score 5 goals. That is not a typo, FIVE goals on FIFTEEN shots. It was a hard game to watch. This may be a game the CBJ look back on and say 'that was the turning point of the season' for better or worse.

And who would blame this team for going south now. The leaders on this team are on IR, including both All-Stars. They have been overachievers by most standards this season. Let's give them credit for what they have done thus far.

Trade Deadline Expectations

Simple, none. I don't expect the Jackets to go after scoring and they don't need defense or goaltending. They would overpay for a top-6 forward as they did last year. This season has been a pleasant surprise given where they started. There isn't anything to sell-out for this time around. We don't have a dynamic scorer or Vezina goaltender ready to leave at the end of the season.

The prudent move would be to wait. Wait for a super deal to be presented. Wait for the draft. Wait for free agency. Jarmo will likely ask too much for his assets and end up holding onto everyone, which isn't a bad thing. Free agency has been a crap shoot. Players get overpaid. And all too often they don't want to come to play in Columbus, Nyquist being the rare exception.

Putting on my GM had here is how I would plan it out.

On Josh Anderson:

I don't know what has gone on behind closed doors and if bridges have been burned or what, but anything less than two draft picks, one of them being a 1st rounder and I hang on to him. I may be overvaluing him. He is big, strong, fast and in the past proven he can have a scoring touch. Toronto may not have a 1st rounder this year, but if they want him a 1st rounder in coming years would work too. Not sure what else I may want from TOR unless they are trying to move Nylanderl, but I doubt that. Any deal like that would take many more pieces.

On Ryan Murray:

When on the ice he has proven his worth. Problem is that he spends more time off the ice than on. I'm not sure there is a 'sell high' value on him at all. Other teams know his injury history. It would take someone desperate for a defensmen and willing to wait out the injury (maybe until next season). It is more likely that if the CBJ want to move him it will be in the off season. On the high end he might return a 'B' prospect and low draft pick. He could return a 2nd rounder for a team that really needs help.

On Sonny Milano:

Sonny is an interesting character and player. He had off season troubles that most of us will never know the full details. He could have done nothing wrong and just been at the wrong place, wrong time. On the ice he has shown flashes of brilliance (think of the between the legs goal) and disappeared other times. Skill is certainly there, but I'm not sure of his ceiling. Gut tells me that he will top out at a second line player, which isn't a knock on him. His value is as high as it is going to go. He is 23, has 18 points in 46 games and has seen some top-line time. Could have a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him. Not really worth it to me.


On Alex Wennberg:

He is the 'bad contract' that Columbus carries, unless you count Dubi who I just like to forget. Wenn's cap hit isn't terrible, it is just terrible for what you get on the ice. I'm not sure how you move this guy, who is now injured and not producing. This season he has looked better than last, but that isn't saying much considering the forgettable year he had in 18/19. My guess is that Jarmo is forced to hold onto him unless he can con someone into believing he just needs a change of scenery.

On the Log Jam at Defense:

Let's get the obvious out of the way, Werenski and Jones are mainstays on the blueline as long as the Jackets can keep them under contract (currently until 2022).

Savard is the MOST underrated guy on this team. He gobbles up minutes with ice time north of 20 minutes each game. His shot blocking is amazing. Somehow he manages to man-handle players without getting penalties. Plus that beard is amazing, you know what I'm talking about. He has one season left on his current contract and Columbus should do everything they can to keep him around.

Harrington, Kukan and Nutivaara are all signed for 2 more seasons. Kukan has the highest potential of all of them, with Nutivaara performing at a high level right now. Harrington could be a guy that skates 3rd pair minutes his entire carrier and seems to fit this system well.

Gavrikov, Peeke and Carlsson round out the NHL defensmen. That makes 9 NHL blue liners. It doesn't include Clendening who has NHL experience too. Of the three mentioned, Carlsson and Gavrikov will be RFAs at the end of the season while Peeke has one more year on his entry level contract. If it were not for Jones and Werenski, I would make the bold statement that Gavrikov would be in the top pair within a year. Peeke has potential but needs a full NHL season to grow into a role.

So, after that quick review I think the most value would be had by moving Savard. I do not think he will get moved, nor would I support moving him. But tell me a First Rounder wouldn't make you change your mind. Don't think that is going to happen, but it would make me think twice.

Nutivaara has great value with a cap friendly contract that stretches through 2022. Given that and his solid play, the ask for him is going to be high from Jarmo, and it should.

If I'm the GM of an NHL team that needs defense I would start by asking for Werenski, conceding that Jones would be off the table (and he is out for the remainder of the season). I would then lower my ask in this hypothetical negotiation to Gavrikov. As an RFA, he would need to be resigned, but that isn't unreasonable. He came to the Jackets via the 2015 draft, in the 6th round, the definition of a diamond in the rough. And he has worked out. I think other teams will pay for him, if Jarmo makes him available. Again, I'm not saying he should be traded, but that he will be on the radar of many other teams.

Here is a pipe dream. PHI comes in on Thursday and the Jackets spank them 5-1, then go on to win out the rest of February?!? I did say it was a pipe dream...

Good Luck and Go Jackets!
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