Another week in paradise. Another week getting the opportunity to cover the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Let us dig deep into your questions.
@BuckeyeStHockey who is likely to get traded?
— Mike (@moikemoike5) January 20, 2016
Each week I am seemingly asked this question and that is no fault of Mike but it is a question that weighs heavily on many fans minds. It would seem with the way the team is headed that no veteran would be safe as they try to retool the team once again. Darren Dreger said that the Jackets were looking to move Scott Hartnell and Fedor Tyutin, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they aren’t on the team by season’s end.
@BuckeyeStHockey what's the kind of pieces jarmo would be looking for at the deadline if you guys had to guess
— Brett Sidoryk (@iamTwigggy) January 20, 2016
My guess would be that the Jackets are looking to re-tool the roster in some way not blow it all up. If they deal any veterans with term they would more than likely ask for a prospect in return who can play a similar role in the Jackets’ organization, look for the “heir apparent” if you will. As an example, the position of wing may be prospect rich right now for Columbus, but they would likely want to replenish the pipeline if they were to sell off a player like Hartnell. Another example? Fedor Tyutin is a player that has occupied the middle pairing of the Jackets’ defensive lineup for quite sometime. The organization wouldn’t get a high end defensive prospect for him in a trade, but they may be able to package him for someone who could fulfill that set of on-ice responsibilities.
It is tough to make out what the atmosphere around the trade deadline will be like, but I wouldn’t doubt that, with the tumultuous nature of the Canadian dollar, some teams may be doing more selling than anticipated.
@BuckeyeStHockey where are the #CBJ going to get the cap room to sign Murray, Jenner, Jones, and Karlsson next season?
— DKM Hockey (@DKM_Hockey) January 20, 2016
This may be one of the pressure points in play for the Jackets as they appear to be sellers at the deadline. Their eyes are going to move towards the future and those pending deals will be of the utmost importance to them.
The Jackets have basically announced to the entire league that Ryan Murray and Seth Jones are their number one pairing. That isn’t going to do them any favors at the contract negotiating table as these players will be looking to be paid properly for their services.
Jenner is having a breakout year but not anything too outrageous, he in my estimation will be looking at a bridge contract somewhere between 1.5 million to 3 million dollars. His underlying numbers compare favorably to Patrick Berglund and, in his deal he had an AAV of $2.25 million. As far as comparing Berglund to Jenner, those numbers should be adjusted as Berglund signed that deal at the beginning of the 2011 season.
William Karlsson shouldn’t break the bank at all but his solid play has been encouraging to fans and, I am sure, management. His numbers compare favorably to players making around 1.5 million dollars and I think that is a fair number for a player who is still trying to find his feet in the league.
Altogether, in my estimation, the Jackets will be looking to invest anywhere between 8-15 million dollars this off-season in this “next generation” of Blue Jacket players. It does depend on how the negotiations go, but the team will need to take a big long look in the mirror and decide what exactly they want to do with this team in the short and long term. Where management thinks the team is at the moment will be shown at the trade deadline, and that may hint at what kind of contracts we will see for players in the off-season.
@BuckeyeStHockey What movie wins the Best Picture Oscar? What was the biggest snub in that category?
— Matt (@zekebud) January 19, 2016
Out of the nominated films I think “The Revenant” and “Spotlight” have the best chance out of that bunch. “Mad Max” is the wild card of the group and may surprise.
For me the big snub is “Ex Machina” the film came out early in 2015 so it didn’t ever have a chance but it was one of my personal favorites this year.
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