Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
With the NHL Entry Draft less than a month away and free agency soon to follow, you'll see mainstream media members talking about rumors more frequently.
One interesting rumor that just popped up from Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline is moving R.J. Umberger,
who recently requested a trade, to the Oilers for Sam Gagner.
Portzline suggests the Jackets could add a little more offensive flare in the lineup while the Oilers would add more size, experience, grit and all that jazz most GMs of bad hockey teams drool over.
From Portzline: "Here's a juicy one: R.J. Umberger to Edmonton for Sam Gagner. It's out there, and it makes a lot of sense ... on paper. Gagner has backpedaled since a strong start of his career, and the Oilers would love to get out from under his $4.8 million cap hit and his $5 million salary the next two seasons. As you may have read in this space previously, Umberger requested a trade at his year-end meeting with coaches and management. He has three years remaining at $4.6 million per season. The salary number is almost a match, but the Blue Jackets may still need to pay some of Umberger's salary to help offset the third year. That's legal under the new CBA. The Oilers want more size and grit. They could use somebody to stand in front of the net and chew up space. This could happen. Then again, here's a big reason it might not happen..."
Portzline went on to say it's possible Edmonton is on the list of 10 teams Umberger won't accept a trade to, though nothing is certain and even if they are, he still may be willing to accept a trade there to get out of Columbus.
This rumor caught me off guard, but if you look at Edmonton's recent history of trading away established NHLers for next to nothing (Andrew Cogliano, Lubomir Visnovsky, etc.) it probably shouldn't have.
Even with Gagner's well documented so-called struggles, his points per/60 of 5 vs 5 has been higher than Umberger's each of the last three seasons.
Gagner's production decrease over the last three years isn't encouraging, but I'm more inclined to believe it's because of a lesser role than declining skills.
It's worth noting Gagner's power play production over the last three seasons has been better, as he averages close to four points per 60 minutes of PP time while Umberger averages a little over three.
Gagner has two years left on his contract at $4.8 million per season, while Umberger has three years left at $4.6 million.
I believe at 24 Gagner's best days are still ahead of him, and that a change of scenery could do him wonders.
If Jarmo Kekalainen can somehow pull this trade off, the Blue Jackets would be that much closer to becoming a legitimate contender. Meanwhile, the Oilers would once again set themselves back as a franchise.
**
Jackets posts
Jared McCann at 16?
On Mike Reilly and the future of Columbus' defense
Blue Jackets were smart to retain Todd Richards
R.J. Umberger requests trade out of Columbus
Jackets sign top prospect Alexander Wennberg
How should Columbus handle Ryan Johansen's next contract?
Devils posts
It's time for Brodeur and the Devils to part ways
Buying out Anton Volchenkov makes sense
Why the Devils may shop Michael Ryder
What will Cory Schneider's next contract look like?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: [email protected]
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»