It's been well documented that the Blue Jackets would like to upgrade their defense, and it appears their 1st round pick could be used as a trade chip to do just that.
While it would obviously take a lot for Columbus to move a top-10 pick in a very good draft - they're slotted to pick 8th overall - trading the pick isn't out of the realm of possibility.
It's only been their pick for 13 hours. I expect them to be aggressive this summer, though, yes. https://t.co/7yI0BwRqj8
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 19, 2015Should Columbus decide to hold onto the pick, they could go about addressing their defense at the 8-spot, as names like Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov, among others, could be available.
The Jackets could very well stand pat with their pick, and look to move one of their many top-9 forwards coupled with one of their other nine draft picks in order to bring in a defenseman.
Columbus already has a good prospect pool - at least up front - and they'll certainly have an opportunity to build on that this summer with 10 picks in total, including four in the top-60.
#CBJ have 10 2015 draft picks:
FIRST: 8
SECOND: 34 (TOR), 38 & ANA’s
THIRD: 68 (PHI), 69
FIFTH: 129, MINN's.
SIXTH: 159
SEVENTH: 189
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 19, 2015Regardless of how Columbus wants to go about addressing their defense, they have plenty of assets - in terms of roster players, prospects and draft picks - to do so.
This could be a fun off-season.
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