For the second time this season and final time in this city, the Columbus Blue Jackets collide in a Saturday night tilt with the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. This is a 7pm start from Bally Sports Ohio.

Ottawa had themselves a buyers trade deadline season this year, acquiring defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes on the bargain rack. The top pairing defender was moved for a conditional first round pick; a conditional second round pick; and an unprotected second round pick.

For this low of a bargain price at the end of the day, I'm shocked the Jackets weren't more aggressive in obtaining his services. They have been in the sweepstakes since Johnny Gaudreau signed here; however, after the season the team has had, Chychrun decided to not commit to being here. I don't blame him, but could've fit in nicely with Werenski on the top pair next season, or be with Boqvist on the second unit. It could have been a dynamic top four, even though it would keep Jake Bean grounded at the bottom pairing.

Originally, the asking price was near four first round level pieces, but settling on potentially two first round picks if conditions work out and a second is way less than asked for. It is also a full futures deal, so Columbus could've been able to keep Jiricek/Mateychuk/Svozil/Knazko on defense and Johnson/Sillinger/Chinakov/Marchenko on offense.

It could've boosted playoff likelihood for next season with a mostly healthy roster.

Julien Gauthier joined Ottawa in exchange for Blue Jackets' alumni Tyler Motte; and veteran Patrick Brown was obtained on deadline day for sixth round pick.

Ottawa also dumped draft picks to Chicago to get rid of the contract of Nikita Zatisev.

The Senators last played on Thursday against the debuting Patrick Kane and New York Rangers, edging them out 5-3 in Chychrun's debut.

Columbus is coming into tonight off a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken in front of a standing room sold out crowd at Nationwide Arena.

If the lineup changes on offense were made and stick with Larsen into tonight, expect a blender offense from all four lines. I'd also expect Michael Hutchinson to make his Columbus debut in between the pipes.

Projected Lineups


Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk--Tim Stuzle--Drake Batherson
Alex DeBricant--Shane Pinto--Claude Giroux
Matheiu Joseph--Dylan Gambrell--Julien Gauthier
Derick Brassard--Mark Kastelic--Austin Watson

Thomas Chabot--Artem Zub
Jake Sanderson--Travis Hamonic
Jakob Chychrun--Nick Holden

Cam Talbot
Mats Sogaard

Scratched -- Parker Kelly, Jacob Larsson, Erik Branstrom

Injured -- Anton Forsberg, Joshua Norris


Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau--Boone Jenner--Eric Robinson
Kent Johnson--Jack Roslovic--Patrik Laine
Kiril Marchenko--Cole Sillinger--Emil Bemstrom
Liam Foudy--Lane Pederson--Mathieu Olivier

Tim Breni--Erik Gudbranson
Gavin Bayruether--Adam Boqvist
Nick Blankenburg--Andrew Peeke

Michael Hutchinson
Elvis Merzlikins


Players to Watch

Ottawa -- Jakob Chychrun -- first home game as a Senators' defenseman. Full family in stands tonight. Most are locals.

Columbus -- Erik Gubdranson -- the former Ottawa Senators defender had an assist last night against Seattle, let's see what happens against his former team.


Projected Final Score

OTT - 3
CBJ - 2

Other Stories

Derrick Brassard Silver Stick - Thursday was his 1,000th NHL game against the New York Rangers, expect the ceremony tonight in front of the team that drafted him.

Brassard is one of only three Blue Jackets' draft picks to ever play 1,000 NHL games. The other two are Rick Nash and Jakub Voracek.

If Nick Holden stays in the lineup it will be career game 675 for the former Jackets' draft pick.

No deadline moves by the Blue Jackets, but center Sean Kuraly is done for the season. This calls for a readjustment of the bottom six offensive unit for the already hurting Columbus roster. This includes Werenski, Danforth, and Bean out for the season after moving Nyquist and Voracek out earlier in the week.

Thoughts ? More to come...

Tomrorow will be a double highlight post from the game action; and Monday cover more trade deadline results and what it means going forward

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