By Mike Rifkin
On May 28th the Columbus Blue Jackets hired Don Waddell to be their President of Hockey Operations and General Manager. Waddell takes over a Blue Jackets team that finished with a 27-43-12 record, the fourth worst record in the league. Waddell takes over for Jarmo Kekalainen. Kekalinen, had been the GM since 2013 and the team had a record of 410-362-97 record.
The Blue Jackets were in a difficult situation last season, prior to the season starting Mike Babcock, who was hired by the team to become the next coach was fired and replaced by Pascal Vincent. Earlier this week Waddell made his first decision as GM and fired Vincent after one season.
Kekalainen, pushed his chips all in last offseason, with the hiring of Babcock and adding Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson to the blue line. The two combined for 14 goals and 60 points, and were a combined -21. Add that to a blue line that includes Zach Werenski, who had 57 points in 70 games last season and the Blue Jackets have a solid top three on the back end.
Up front the Blue Jackets are led by Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau had a career low 12 goals in 82 games last season. Gaudreau makes 9.75 million through 2029-30 has had his name mentioned in trade rumors. If I’m Waddell I’m not moving Gaudreau, despite him not playing his best hockey in Columbus, but next season is a big season for him. The other star winger Patrick Laine and the team are looking to give Laine a fresh start. Laine, was limited to 18 games because of injury and entered the NHLPA Players Assistance program. Laine did have six goals and nine points in those 18 games.
The Blue Jackets do have a nice young group of forwards though. Led by Adam Fantilli, the 2023 third overall pick who had 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games. Kirill Marchenko, Dimitri Voronkov, Cole Sillinger, Alexandre Texier, and Yegor Chinakhov combined for 82 goals and 167 points.
If the Blue Jackets have a hole it’s in goal. Elvis Merzlikins for the third consecutive year had a GAA over 3 with a 3.45 GAA and a .897 save percentage. Merzlikins is under contract through 2027-28 at 5.4 million dollars. Daniil Tarasov played well in the backup role posting a 3.18 GAA and a .908 save percentage. At 25 years old is Tarasov ready to take the net over.
The Blue Jackets will have around 22-23 million dollars in cap space so if I was Don Waddell here’s how I’d go about this offseason.
- Hire Jay Woodcroft to be the head coach – Woodcroft was fired after the Oilers abysmal start to the season, but let’s not forget when he took over the job he led the Oilers to the Western Conference Finals. There is a lot less pressure in Columbus than Edmonton, so Woodcroft can help the young team grow.
- Trade Patrick Laine to Utah – As mentioned above Laine and the Blue Jackets want to get him a fresh start. Utah wants to make a splash their first offseason, so why not add a former second overall pick. Utah has six picks between the second and third rounds of the draft, so maybe there’s a match there.
- Trade Merzlikins, 2024 3rd round pick, and another pick to the Maple Leafs for the rights to Timothy Liljegren. – Liljegren is still only 25 years old. If the Maple Leafs are hesitant on re-signing him, he could fit the Columbus timeline.
- Sign Elias Lindholm – Elias Lindholm will be 30 in December, but if you want to unlock the Johnny Gaudreau potential, why not reunite him with his long time center from the Flames? Lindholm is a few seasons removed from scoring 40 goals, so while that may not be attained again, he can certainly score 20 and can help one of the worst power plays in the NHL.
- Sign Cam Talbot/Anthony Stolarz or take a big swing ( trade for Juuse Saros) – This goes to what I was speaking to above, if they want to give Tarasov a chance in goal then sign a respectable backup. But if they don’t then take a swing and trade for Saros, who will need an extension because he becomes an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
- Re-sign RFA’S – Alex Texier, Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger, and Kent Johnson are all RFA’S and unless someone gives you an offer you can’t refuse (Godfather voice) this is your present and future.
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