The Blue Jackets may not do much in the way of free agency, but they're expected to be active in the trade market this summer.
The team has an abundance of quality forwards, and they could look to parlay some of those into quality defensemen and draft picks.
Via the Columbus Dispatch: With 14 bona fide NHL forwards under contract at least through next season — this does not count Letestu, who could be re-signed, or youngsters Kerby Rychel and Josh Anderson, who are pushing for spots — the Jackets will be in the market for defensemen and picks at the draft.“Everybody knows the roster only holds 23,… Kekalainen said. “When you count the guys and see the young guys pushing, you know we need to do some planning with that.
As for draft picks, the Blue Jackets already have 11 for this year's draft. That said, GM Jarmo Kekalainen loves the draft, and has done very well there throughout his career in management, so it's hardly a surprise he's courting more draft picks.
If not anything else, they could parlay multiple picks into moving up for a guy high on their board come draft day.
It sounds as if Kekalainen and the Blue Jackets have already mapped out their off-season plan. It will be fun to see how they go about executing it.
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