Sorry for late blog here is what my opinions are on the trades completed by Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen:
To Columbus
G Jonathan Quick 2023 Conditional 1st Round Pick 2023 3rd Round Pick
To Los Angeles
D Vladislav Gavrikov G Joonas Korpisalo
To Columbus
2023 5th Round Pick (from Boston)
To Minnesota
F Gustav Nyquist
To Arizona
F Jakub Voracek 2023 6th Round Pick
To Columbus
G Jon Gilles
To Vegas
G Jonathan Quick
To Columbus
G Michael Hutchinson 2025 7th Round pick
LA Package - B+
Quick is the real surprise to make the cap work then Columbus could've just simply retained half salary on both and could've gotten a better deal from other teams. The market was no longer available since Kekalainen stuck to his guns and wanted the first and third desired in his price tag.
Quick is refusing to play in Columbus to play for a contender. Good on him. Great way to also spit on another franchise. Maybe be good and try again cuz the Kings had to get rid of you.
I am a big fan of Quick and he will get in the hall, but he is aging like milk in a sport where it needs to be like wine.
The first being conditional for two seconds is a worry if it doesn't meet as there may not be a guarantee at a more likely NHL roster player this way than with the multiple picks. It's a risk on JK.
LA continues to rotate the goaltender carrousel between Quck, Petersen, Copley, and now Korpsialo getting game action. Gavrikov is a top four defender that is sound and grounded in his zone.
Minnesota Package : F
Should've retained salary to get a better return on a career playoff performer and special teams winger. This helps Minnesota if they get in. If they hit the draft pick out the park the grade changes
Arizona Package - C
Sad to see Voracek’s career come to an end, smart cap management by the Jackets and adding a backup fringe goalie in Gilles to keep development of Graves and Tarasov going.
Jonathan Quick Package - D
Either he retires or goes back to a playoff contender where he belongs. Columbus must retain salary to get a good return otherwise I am expecting a late round pick similar to Vegas unless they become a third party broker for other teams.
Hutchinson and a 7th to retain half of Quick? Great money saving for future years but other teams got more back for retaining money. Hutch keeping Tarasov in the minors for development is preventing an F.
CBJ P61 -- Rare Robinson Hatty A rare Eric Robinson hattrick is the highlight of the night as the Columbus Blue Jackets hold on to defeat the Buffalo Sabres by the final score of 5-3.
Columbus opened the scoring with a first period power play tally from rookie Kent Johnson for his 13th career NHL goal from Nick Blankenburg and Elvis Merzlikins.
Less than 20 seconds later, Buffalo's leading goal scorer evened the game at one all. A snapshot from Tage Thompson earned him his 41st of the year from Jeff Skinner and Jack Quinn.
Robinson's first of the night was unassisted for his sixth of the season. His second game midway through the second period for his seventh from Sean Kuraly and Patrik Laine.
Captain Boone Jenner would get the eventual game winning goal with 18 seconds left in the second period for his team leading 19th of the year from Blankenburg and Andrew Peeke.
Buffalo scored two early third period goals to make the game interesting down the stretch.
Jack Quinn potted his 11th of the year off a Mattias Samuelsson helper.
JJ Peterka recorded a powerplay goal for his 8th this season via Owen Power and Peyton Krebs
Robinson recorded his hat trick goal on an empty net with 35 seconds left in the game with the lone assist came from the captain.
Owen Power was my Sabres player to watch, earning an assist with a -1 rating in 28:43TOI.
Craig Anderson stopped 31 of 35 shots faced for a 0.886 save percentage.
Liam Foudy had three shots and a takeaway in 13:17 TOI.
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 38 of 41 shots faced for a 0.927 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Eric Robinson — 3 goals (8)
2. Boone Jenner — goal (19), assist (17)
3. Elvis Merzlikins — assist (1), win, 92.7 SV%, 38 saves