The 2015 NHL Draft is tomorrow and there have been no shortage of rumors surrounding the Blue Jackets leading up to the big day.
The latest had the Jackets exploring the possibilities of trading up - potentially to 3rd overall - to grab a defenseman.
The rumors appear to be true as GM Jarmo Kekalainen has contacted the Coyotes about jumping up from 8th overall to 3rd, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
"There are lots of teams kicking tires with Arizona. I'm hearing the Columbus Blue Jackets are high on the list. They're trying to get something done but I think we'll be talking about this, perhaps, right up until the bell rings to start round 1."
Dreger noted the Coyotes want to rebuild but can't sit around 4-5 years before taking a big step forward. He suggested the Coyotes will only move the pick if they get an offer that contains quality, young assets that can help them both now and for the foreseeable future.
That's why I think the Blue Jackets are as good of a match as anyone for Arizona.
Not only do the Blue Jackets possess a top-10 pick, which allows the Coyotes to still get a high-end player, but they also have three 2nd round picks and quality forwards like Artem Anisimov, Cam Atkinson and prospect Kerby Rychel that they could be willing to move.
Would a package of 8th overall, Kerby Rychel and a 2nd round pick, for example, be enough to jump up to 3rd overall? That would surely get Coyotes GM Don Maloney thinking.
That's a lot to give up but the Blue Jackets desperately want to upgrade their defense and a duo of Noah Hanifin and Ryan Murray anchoring Columbus' blue line for years to come would certainly be intriguing.
As Dreger mentioned there are plenty of other interested parties, and this could turn into a bidding war, so this could very well come down to the wire.
Buckle up.
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