If Blue Jackets general manager, Scott Howson, decides to go the trade route to pick up the defenseman that he needs to fill out the top 4 the options are out there but none of them are clean and easy. As I reported on Twitter earlier this week that their was talk that the Jackets were talking to an Eastern Conference team about a trade. The talk has cooled off but there is still a few options out there for Columbus:

Mike Komisarek - would be the perfect piece to add to the mix. At 6'4", 243 pound, this blue liner doesn't take a ton of penalties, blocks shots and can throw his weight around a little. The problem is his contract. He has a limited no trade clause plus he is scheduled to be paid $5.5 million this coming season and $3.5 million the next two after that. The Maple Leafs would have to take back some salary for this to work. I don't know if Sammy Pahlsson's $2.65 million is enough especially since it's the final year of the contract. Kristian Huselius and his $4.75 million would help but again he is in the final year of his contract and don't know if he's a player that Brian Burke would be excited to get.

Bryce Salvador - this is a big risk and Howson wouldn't move until he is convinced that all the concusssymptomstons are gone that kept the Devils defenseman out of the lineup all of last season. If he is over it, he's would be a good fit as he plays with some nasty in his game and got his concussion in a fight in pre-season. Also, his contract would be good in that it's $2.9 million for this season which would be the final year of his deal. The Devils don't want any money back so draft pick would probably be what would be offered up or a prospect.

John Erskine - this name has been floating around as a possible player that the Caps would move. He's 6'4", 220 pounds that will fight when he needs to and will stay home and take care of the defensive end. His $1.5 million contract until the 2012/2013 season is attractive also. Draft pick or prospect would be the price to make this happen most likely.

Those are the ones that look to make the most sense. I still think that Howson would like to go the free agent route first and pick up a Scott Hannan or Shane O'Brien but if those efforts fall flat, he'll need to start bartering for the defenseman he really needs to round out his off season efforts.

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