Ahead of the upcoming busy calendar around the NHL and the Columbus Blue Jackets, the rumor mill is beginning to eye the franchises in the hunt for the Eastern Conference Wild Card playoff positions.
With the upcoming Four Nations tournament being treated by some clubs as an “internal deadline”, the panic buttons and pressure cookers are warming up on managers’ backsides all over the league.
After the fireworks of the first point per player three team trade in nearly three decades, more sparks are expected to explode before the tournament and before the March 7 deadline.
Fireworks will also be ablaze March 1 for the Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series between the Blue Jackets and Res Wings from Buckeye Stadium in the first outdoor game in Columbus.
The last week or so, the reports are coming out that Don Waddell and the Columbus Blue Jackets may become buyers to reward the locker room with how this season has turned out. From tragedy to triumph, the franchise is poised to potentially have their first postseason appearance since 2020; the year they were stomped by Tampa Bay in the COVID bubble en route to their first l Stanley Cup in 16 years.
The Jackets and Waddell appear to be in conversations with former Hurricanes’ management, the former organization of Waddell. Vancouver and Seattle are the main two clubs. There has also been mention of the New York Islanders with one of their rentals as well.
On the Canucks…
The Canucks are in trouble and are continuing to see the wrongdoings spill through the media and online. Their core is looking for a way out, and coaching and management are struggling to deal with it. From Benning/Boudreau to Rutherford/Tocchet, forwards JT Miller and Elias Pettersson are both expected to be moved. Brock Boeser is also anticipated to be a deadline rental, and is coveted by Waddell. If the rumors begin to swirl around Demko and Hughes, I’d keep my eye on Demko too.
Miller is from Ohio and played with Rich Nash in New York when he was a prospect and middle six forward. There is still a mutual respect between the two.
Pettersson is a younger and richer forward that may be the undisputed number one center if brought in. January rumors suggest Fantilli, but I don’t expect the Jackets to easily move their top young prospects.
Boeser is a former 40 goal scorer from Minnesota and helped the Canucks’ get to the postseason last year before injury.
On Brandon Tanev…
Ron Francis and Don Waddell may be in trade talks about some more toughness and grit. And maybe a new famous hockey face. Brandon Tanev is a pending unrestricted free agent after being an expansion claim from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Per the Fourth Period
The Blue Jackets are among the teams interested in Seattle Kraken forward Brandon Tanev.
On Brock Nelson…
This is another rental connection; being rumored by John Buccigross of ESPN.
On Brandon Saad…
The former Jackets’ winger is on the waiver wire at the time of this writing to head to Springfield of the AHL.
On the seller market…
Waddell made it clear last week the club is not willing to deal rentals for draft picks. The pending unrestricted free agents in Columbus include defensemen Ivan Provorov; Dante Fabbro; and Jack Johnson. Up front, there is also Sean Kuraly; James van Riemsdyk; Justin Danforth; Mathieu Olivier; and Kevin Labanc.
Restricted free agents include forwards Dmitry Voronkov and Mikael Pyyhita; defender Jordan Harris; and goalie Daniil Tarasov.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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