Armed with 10 picks in this year's draft, including six in the top-3 rounds, the Blue Jackets have what it takes to move up.
The Blue Jackets enter this off-season in need of defense - in terms of both NHLers and prospects - and they may be prepared to trade up in order to get the guy they want.
Via Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts: 13. Toronto assistant GM Kyle Dubas told reporters the team “would definitely look at… trading the fourth pick, if the right offer came their way. Arizona GM Don Maloney told ESPN.com’s Craig Custance that he had three calls about the third spot, but wasn’t sure yet what he’d do. After the top two picks, there are some differing opinions about how this draft is going to go.Watch Columbus. Everyone knows the Blue Jackets want young defencemen. There are some nice ones in this draft. They are at eight. Do they need to go up to get their guy? And, more importantly, can someone move down and still get who they want? Moving down is risky.
A few takeaways from that blurb:
1) No matter how this draft plays out, and there are many possibilities, the Blue Jackets will almost certainly get to pick between at least one of Ivan Provorov or Zach Werenski at 8.
2) If the Blue Jackets need to trade up to get their guy that likely means their guy is Noah Hannifin.
3) As Friedman mentioned both Arizona (3) and Toronto (4) seem at least willing to listen to offers for their picks. The Maple Leafs don't have a 2nd round pick and Columbus has three so there could be a match there. Would 8th overall and a couple 2nd round picks - potentially including Toronto's (34th overall) - be enough to get up to 4th and grab Hanifin? If not the Blue Jackets have plenty of young forwards in their organization they could include to get a deal done.
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Mike Reilly used the NHL combine to meet with nine teams - including Columbus - to discuss the possibility of signing with them.
He's now in the process of narrowing down his list to a handful of teams, according to Friedman.
Via 30 Thoughts: 10.Pittsburgh was one of nine teams to meet with UFA-to-be defenceman Mike Reilly last week at the combine. Reilly is expected to cut his list to three or four in the next couple of days. He may visit some of the cities before making a final decision.Apparently, some of the players on the US World Championship team advised him to go through this process, saying he had a unique opportunity and should take advantage.
There's been no word on which teams are still being considered, however, it's probably safe to assume that Chicago - the favorites to land Reilly - and Minnesota - his dad is a minority owner and Reilly played college hockey there - will be among the three or four finalists.
Throughout the whole process Reilly has been adamant that he's still considering signing with Columbus.
We'll find out in a couple days if that's true, but even if they make his final list I expect he'll sign elsewhere.
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