Zak MacMillan: Oliver Bjorkstrand— the most underrated Blue Jacket

I think Jarmo pulled the trigger too quickly. It would have been better to wait it out another day or 2 to get a better return. Still looks a little thin at center. Maybe you could trade Nyqvist and a 1st to Detroit for Puis Suter.

Very bad trade by Jarmo, Bjorkstrand was NOT the guy to move to create cap space, I like Nyquist but he was the guy to find a new home for even if it cost you a 2nd round pick to dump him even though he's not really a dump and still a good player.

Such a shortsighted trade and done far too quickly, you can be 10% over the cap in the offseason so why not just ride it for a while longer and see what else opens up.

There had to be better options than giving away a good winger on a good contract for pretty much nothing.

Very bad trade by Jarmo, Bjorkstrand was NOT the guy to move to create cap space, I like Nyquist but he was the guy to find a new home for even if it cost you a 2nd round pick to dump him even though he's not really a dump and still a good player.

Such a shortsighted trade and done far too quickly, you can be 10% over the cap in the offseason so why not just ride it for a while longer and see what else opens up.

There had to be better options than giving away a good winger on a good contract for pretty much nothing.
- JetFuel

NHL GMs are morons. Look at the contract he gave Gudbranson.

Zak MacMillan: Oliver Bjorkstrand— the most underrated Blue Jacket
- Zak MacMillan

First Atkinson now Bjorstrand, what I don't understand about Jarmo is that he goes on these rants about players not wanting to play in Columbus , yet he's quick on the trigger in sending guys who actually wanted to play for the team elsewhere ... and for cheap returns .

On the flip side, Nyquist is up next years so that's anothers 5 millions off the books that could used to resign Gavrikov , perhaps Chinakhov or Johnson will impose themselves as legitimate top 6 forwards going into this season, who knows. The cbj aren't so bad off salary cap wise.

I think Jarmo pulled the trigger too quickly. It would have been better to wait it out another day or 2 to get a better return. Still looks a little thin at center. Maybe you could trade Nyqvist and a 1st to Detroit for Puis Suter.
- HenryHockey

Maybe Hronek instead and there’s a deal.

Henry and Alex,

I understand your thoughts about losing Bjorkstrand, and to an extent Atkinson. The Atkinson trade is different to me, If I remember correctly we pay one less year and more money for Voracek, and he played well for the team last season. Atkinson would have played well for the CBJ but Voraeck had a different skill set the team needed.

But concerning Bjorkstrand, Seattle is never going to take Nyquist or even Nyquist and a prospect when Bjorkstrand in on the roster. I personally think this is a case of Branch Rickey; "Better to trade him one year too early than one year too late." Who else and how many people can GMJK trade this year to cut the salary cap, and add in the fact that there not many teams with significant salary cap space left at this point.

I believe that he looked at the roster, saw that he would have to dig into the prospect pool to make any deal that included Nyquist, and even more deeply into it to get others traded. So he swallowed the pain early and traded Bjorkstrand.

Plus, as many have stated Nyquist goes off the books at the end of the season or as rental if the CBJ is out of the playoff picture, and Voraeck is in the same situation at the end of the next season (23-24) as Nyquist is at the end of this coming season.

Even more to the point, say the CBJ is in the playoff hunt and wants a veteran or better goalie for the post-season. Well, there is Nyquist sitting there and quite movable if the need arises.

Sadly, just like the Atkinson trade last year, there is a price to pay to get something you need. There will be a bruise from this one, but personally I think the pain now will be worth it later. And even if GMJK did overpay for Gudbranson it wouldn't change anything, either Byquist, Voracek, or Bjorkstrand had to go.

Finally, let's be honest about one other thing. If signing Johnny Jockey made it impossible to sign Laine without trading Bjorkstrand would the CBJ not sign Johnny Hockey? I'm not sure you can make any case that Bjorkstrand makes the CBJ better than Gaudreau does.

Further, getting Gaudreau to sign and Liane to sign after getting Werenski to sign last year is starting to get rid of the supposed negativity about signing in Columbus.

Like I said I don't like to see Bjorkstrand leave, but that's a good price to pay for what the team did (IMO).

Sorry about the long post.

At some point a player isn’t underrated or overrated, they are what they are. Ole is a middle 6 player with some good games but way too inconsistent.. disappears for long stretches.
Will be missed but CBJ is a better team now.

I agree with jkumpire. Trading Bjorkstrand was definitely a gut-punch. And goes against all the "loyalty", "wanting to play in Columbus" talk by Jarmo & JD .

However, Jarmo is looking long-term at the cap, and what/who he'll have to pay over the next 4 yrs. Trading Nyquist - plus some sweeteners, would give temporary cap relief, and loss of future assets/propects.

Trading Bjorkstrand gives almost $22MM cap space over the next 4 years. Now, Nyquist ($5.5MM) falls away next summer; Voracek ($8.25MM) falls away '24 summer - although I think it's possible Jake re-signs a short-term contract at reduced price.
depending on Roslovic's performane - he may drop off in '24 summer too.

During that time Jarmo will be negotiating with: Chinakhov; Johnson; Sillinger; Marchenko; and Gavrikov. So the available cap will be needed.